An estimated 25-40 percent of United States pre-adolescents and adolescents are obese. Higher rates have been noted among minority youth. Onset of obesity in late childhood and early adolescence is associated with increased risks of "tracking" of obesity into adulthood, subsequent obesity-related morbidity and mortality, and obesity- related psychosocial morbidity. However, there is limited ability to accurately identify those children who will become obese adults and those who will suffer obesity-related morbidities, Existing treatments for child and adolescent obesity have yielded modest, unsustained effects, and single-component prevention interventions have been relatively ineffective.