Study participants
Study participants were recruited using newspaper advertisements
and were enrolled between November 2001 and July
2002. All participants provided written informed consent.
Men and women aged over 18 y who wished to lose weight
and had a BMI of between 28 and 50 kg/m2 were included.
The exclusion criteria were current treatment with chitosancontaining
supplements; current or recent treatment with
weight-loss medications; current or recent attendance at a
commercial weight-loss clinic/programme; allergy to seafood;
pregnancy or lactation; active gastrointestinal disease
or obesity surgery; involvement in another clinical trial; and
individuals judged to be unlikely to comply with study
treatment and follow-up procedures.