Let's face it-women simply do not lose weight or build muscle as easily as men. Drawing on fascinating recent research that has shed new light on the gender differences in metabolism and the effect of exercise, the editors of Women's Health, the healthy lifestyle magazine for today's active woman, have devised a weight-loss plan that is designed for women who would like to lose anywhere from 5 to 25 pounds.

For the millions of women trying to drop a size or two, WOMEN'S HEALTH PERFECT BODY DIET by CASSANDRA FORSYTHE, MS (Rodale Trade Books/Hardcover / $24.95 / 352 pages/ January 2008) offers a proven, fiber-based diet tailored to women's specific needs, including the way their bodies metabolize food and respond to exercise.

The key feature of the Women's Health Perfect Body Diet includes Glucomannan, a soluble fiber that helps dieters feel full faster and, therefore, eat less throughout the day. They've have also included meal plans that focus on fiber.

The Women's Health Perfect Body Diet is a whole-body approach that considers the importance of hormones, digestion, blood sugar levels, muscle mass, and bone maintenance. It offers dieting techniques that revolve around the psychological needs, personal goals, and lifestyles of women.

There are two diet plans to choose from-one higher in fats and lower in carbs, the other higher in carbs and lower in fats (simple food tests help women choose the type they need). In addition to the customized eating plan-complete with 75 easy-to-prepare recipes-there is a vigorous, customized fitness program consisting of 50 exercises designed to bring results in just three weeks.