Pilot RCT of an Obesity Intervention for Primary Care Pediatrics: Helping HAND

Inclusion Criteria: * 1\) Child: Healthy 5 to 8 year old child who is overweight (BMI =/\>85%), but not morbidly obese (BMI\<99%) * 2\) Child attends one of 4 TCPA clinics * 3\) Child is Texas Children's Health Plan member/participant * 4\) Parent who is child's primary care taker able and willing to participate * 5\) Parent and child willing to attend and participate in 6 month intervention sessions and 3 measurement time points over 14 months * 6\) Only one child per family will be eligible to participate. Exclusion Criteria: * 1\) Parent unable to read or write in English or Spanish. * 2\) Parent or child unable to participate in counseling sessions in English or Spanish * 3\) Child with BMI =/\> 99%tile * 4\) Child with medical consequences of obesity (such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes) that would require treatment and not prevention. * 5\) Child on medications (such as oral steroids, stimulants, or anti-psychotic medications) that can affect their weight status * 6\) Child with medical problems that could influence their diet or physical activity or make it difficult for that child to participate in a behavior change program (such as mental retardation, neurologic disorders, severe food allergies or severe cardiac or pulmonary disease that restricts their activities). * 7\) Parents who participated in interviews during the developmental phase of Helping HAND * 8\) Family currently participating in other weight treatment of prevention programs