A study assessed whether eating soup as part of an overall dietary regimen would facilitate weight loss and maintenance in obese adults (91 women, 31 men; ages 21-55). The patients were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 groups: (A) traditional behavioral weight loss; (B) soup with traditional behavioral weight loss; and (C) no treatment (control). Significant weight losses occurred for the 2 treatment groups relative to the control group. Mean weight losses for groups A and B at 1-year followup were 6.2 and 6.8 kg, respectively. Mean weight regains for groups A and B were 2.4 and 1 kg, respectively, suggesting the helpful use of soup in a behavioral strategy for obesity treatment. Blood pressures were not adversely affected by soup consumption.(wz)