Family Based Treatment for Weight Loss With Breakfast Prescription

The purpose of this application is to evaluate the acceptability and initial efficacy of consumption of an egg breakfast, compared to a cereal breakfast, in the context of Family-based Behavioral Treatment (FBT) with overweight and obese children and their parents. Investigators will randomize 66 parents and their overweight and obese child (85-99.9%BMI) to FBT+egg or FBT+cereal groups. Families will eat their assigned breakfast (eggs or cereal) 5 out of 7 days during the 4 month FBT treatment. However, all other aspects of FBT will be the same in the two groups. Children and parents will complete assessments at three time points; baseline, post-treatment and 4-months post-treatment.

Inclusion criteria

• Children between the ages of 8 and 12 years old;
• BMI ≥85th% and <100% overweight
• Children with parents who are willing to attend 16 weekly group sessions and be randomized to either treatment arm;
• Have at least one parent who is overweight or obese (BMI≥25);
• Children and parent who endorse liking of both eggs and cereal
• Parents who speak English at a 5th grade level.

Exclusion criteria

• Children with serious medical conditions that affect their weight;
• Children taking medication that affect appetite or weight;
• Children with severe developmental delay or disability that would affect participation;
• Children or parents with psychological illness that would limit treatment participation;
• Families who plan to move out of the area within the time frame of the study.