Pet food compositions and methods for weight loss and maintenance

A nutritionally balanced pet food composition comprising a myristic acid source and a beta-carotene source, in amounts effective to prevent or treat obesity in a companion animal in need thereof, wherein myristic acid is present in the composition in an amount of at least 0.3%, and wherein beta-carotene is present in the composition in an amount of from 2 ppm to 4 ppm,

• wherein the pet food composition further comprises 20 to 50 wt % of protein, which comprises from 1 to 4 wt % of arginine;
• from 0.01 to 1.5 wt % of cystine;
• from 0.01 to 1.5 wt % of histidine;
• from 0.1 to 3 wt % of isoleucine;
• from 2 to 6 wt % of leucine;
• from 0.1 to 4 wt % lysine, from 0.1 to 3 wt % of methionine;
• from 0.1 to 4 wt % of phenylalanine;
• from 0.1 to 3 wt % threonine;
• from 0.01 to 2 wt % tryptophan;
• from 0.1 to 4 wt % of tyrosine;
• and from 0.5 to 4 wt % of valine.