Chewing Gum for Weight Loss

Inclusion Criteria: * 19 - 50 years of age * BMI 25 - 35 kg/m2 * Non-diabetic; no previous history of diabetes * Fasting glucose \<126 mg/dL at recruitment * Male or female * Any race or ethnicity Exclusion Criteria: * Any major disease including: * Active cancer or cancer requiring treatment \< 2 years (except nonmelanoma skin cancer). * Active or chronic infections including self-reported HIV and active tuberculosis. * Active cardiovascular disease or event with hospitalization; or therapeutic procedures for treatment of heart disease \<6 months; or New York Heart Association Functional Class \>2 for congestive heart failure, stroke or transient ischemic attack \< 6 months. * Uncontrolled hypertension: ≥SBP 160 mm Hg or DBP ≥95 mm Hg on treatment. * GI disease: self-reported chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis; alcoholic hepatitis or alcoholic pancreatitis \< 12 months; inflammatory bowel disease treatment \< 12 months; recent or significant abdominal surgery. * Renal disease: serum creatinine ≥1.4 mg/dL (124 μmol/L) for men; ≥1.3 mg/dL (115 μmol/L) for women. * Lung disease: chronic obstructive airway disease with use of oxygen. * Diagnosed diabetes (type 1 or 2), fasting hyperglycemia (blood glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL), or use of any anti-diabetic medications. * Uncompensated or uncontrolled psychiatric disease that would impede conduct of the trial or completion of procedures. * Phenylketonuria. * Temporomandibular joint disorders. * \< 16 natural, fully crowned, or restored teeth in a good state of repair. * Inadequate oral hygiene. * Sensitivity to flavors, sweeteners, or other ingredients in sugar-free chewing gum. * Refusal to chew gum per study guidelines. * Currently chewing ≥5 sticks of gum per week. * Weight loss or gain of \>10% in the past 6 months except post-partum weight loss. * Current participation in any weight-reduction program. * Current smoker or quit \< 6 months. * History of prior surgical procedure for weight control or liposuction. * Unable or unwilling to give informed consent; unable to communicate with clinic staff; another household member is a participant or staff member in the trial; unwilling to accept randomization; current or anticipated participation in another intervention research project that would interfere with the intervention offered in the trial; likely to move away before trial completed; unable to walk 0.25 mile in 10 minutes. * Currently pregnant or \< 3 months post partum; currently nursing or within 6 weeks of having completed nursing; pregnancy anticipated during study; unwilling to report possible or confirmed pregnancies promptly during the trial; unwilling to take adequate contraceptive measures if potentially fertile. * Brief Symptom Inventory score (Derogatis \& Melisaratos, 1983) \> 90th percentile. * Any active use of illegal or illicit drugs or history of such use \< 12 months. Excessive alcohol intake, acute or chronic: average consumption of 3+ alcohol containing beverages daily; consumption of 7+ alcoholic beverages within a 24-hr period \<12 months; or other evidence available to clinic staff. Subject may still be considered eligible if, upon explanation, the clinic staff believe that the volunteer can and will limit future intake. * This is a partial listing; complete list available from PIs.