Laurel Mellin, M.A., R.D., is an associate clinical professor of family and community medicine and pediatrics at the University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine. She is the director of the Institute for Health Solutions, and is the author of "The Solution: 6 Winning Ways to Permanent Weight Loss" and "The Shapedown Program." Mellin lectures extensively to health professionals and self-help groups and has appeared on "Oprah, Today, Good Morning America, " and the "CBS Evening News." Her work has been featured in "Time, Life, Newsweek, Fortune, Health, Shape, " and "U.S. News & World Report." She lives with her three children in Marin County, California