ABSTRACT
There is an alarmingly high prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents in the United States and these rates are increasing. Between 1976 and 1980, prevalence of pediatric obesity was estimated to be 17% (McDowell, Engel, Massey, & Maurer, 1981), and more recent data suggest that approximately 22% of individuals between 6 and 17 years old are overweight (Troiano, Flegal, Kuczmarski, Campbell, & Johnson, 1995). Thus, the rate of obesity in young people has dramatically increased, especially over the past 10 years (Troiano et al., 1995). The increased prevalence of childhood obesity is of concern due to its relation with obesity-related morbidity, long-term psychosocial consequences, and adult overweight. Most importantly, in contrast to the poor outcome of obesity in adults, efficacious treatments have been developed for overweight children (e.g., Epstein, Valoski, Wing, & McCurley, 1990, 1994).
