Inclusion Criteria:Inclusion criteria: 8-15 year old obese children (BMI ≥ 95th
percentile on the 2000 CDC BMI reference) on the date of randomization. Our standard
Stanford Pediatric Weight Control Program eligibility criteria will apply: both child and
parent/guardian must want to join, both child and at least one parent/guardian must agree
to attend sessions, and must agree to not miss more than 2 consecutive sessions. As we
interested in testing generalizable strategies for weight control in diverse populations,
the eligibility criteria are designed to be liberal, to maximize the generalizability of
the results, but also maintain the internal validity of the test of the intervention.
Exclusion Criteria:Exclusions: To enhance internal validity, children will not be eligible
if they:

   1. have been diagnosed with a medical condition affecting growth (a genetic or metabolic
   disease/syndrome associated obesity, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes taking
   medication, chronic gastrointestinal diseases, Chronic renal diseases, uncorrected
   structural heart disease, heart failure, heart transplant, anorexia nervosa or bulimia
   nervosa or binge eating disorder [present or past], AIDS or HIV infection, pregnancy);

   2. are taking medications affecting growth (systemic corticosteroids more than 2 weeks in
   the past year, insulin, oral hypoglycemics, thyroid hormone, growth hormone);

   3. have a condition limiting their participation in the interventions (e.g., unable to
   participate in routine physical education classes at school, requiring oxygen
   supplementation for exertion, developmental or physical disability preventing
   participation in interventions, children or parents/guardians who cannot medically
   participate in mild dietary restrictions and/or increased physical activity for any
   reason);

   4. have a condition limiting participation in the assessments (child or primary caregiver
   not able to read surveys in English or Spanish, child two or more grade levels delayed
   in school for reading and writing in his/her native language);

   5. are unable to read, understand or complete informed consent in English or Spanish;

   6. plan to move from the San Francisco Bay Area within the next 18 months.