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

Key features of Women's Health Perfect Body Plan include:

• Glucomannan, a soluble fiber that helps dieters feel full faster-and therefore eat less throughout the day

• Meal plans that contain at least 40 grams of fiber per day

• An adjustment for the impact of female hormones on weight loss (women need a higher protein diet than men to increase lean body tissue and decrease body fat)

• Dieting techniques that revolve around psychological needs and personal goals and lifestyle

• 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 that brings results in just three weeks.