Weight management system for obese animals

Abstract

A pet food product for promoting comprehensive weight management in companion animals. The pet food includes, on a dry matter basis, about 35 to about 70% by weight of a protein, about 4 to about 10% by weight of a fat, about 5 to about 25% by weight of a fiber, about 10 to about 35% by weight of a digestible carbohydrate, and about 0.1 to about 1% by weight of a functional ingredient. In a preferred embodiment a diacylglyceride is the functional ingredient.

1 - 17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . A process of promoting comprehensive weight management in a companion animal comprising the steps of: 
 feeding to said animal a diet comprising about 35 to about 70% by weight of a protein, about 4 to about 10% by weight of a fat, about 5 to about 25% by weight of a fiber, about 10 to about 35% by weight of a digestible carbohydrate, and about 0.1 to about 1% by weight of a functional ingredient; and    measuring a change in physiology of the companion animal, wherein the change in physiology provides and indicator of comprehensive weight management.    
   
   
       19 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein said animal is selected from the group consisting of a dog and a cat.  
   
   
       20 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein said fat comprises essential long-chain fatty acids.  
   
   
       21 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein said functional ingredient is selected from the group consisting of L-carnitine, a conjugated linoleic acid and a diacylglyceride.  
   
   
       22 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein said functional ingredient is a diacylglyceride.  
   
   
       23 . The process of  claim 22 , wherein said diacylglyceride is obtained from a vegetable oil.  
   
   
       24 . The process of  claim 23 , wherein said vegetable oil is Econa oil  
   
   
       25 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein the pet food product is selected from a group consisting of a wet pet food, a semi-moist pet food, a dry pet food, a pet treat, a pet snack, and a pet drink.  
   
   
       26 - 57 . (canceled)  
   
   
       58 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein the measuring step comprises measuring lean body mass, weight loss, satiety or food intake.  
   
   
       59 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein a change in physiology of the companion animal is selected from the group consisting of an increase in lean body mass, an increase in weight loss, an increase in the animal's satiety, and a decrease in the animal's voluntary food intake.