Chrononutrition and Adolescent Weight Control

Participants in the BFL group will participate in 16 weekly, group based sessions weekly sessions in which they will be exposed to standard behavioral therapy (SBT) for weight control. Each 90-minute session will cover one weight control topic (self-monitoring, modifying the home food environment, physical activity, goal setting, stimulus control, stress-related eating, motivation, problem solving, healthy eating on a budget, social influences and weight loss maintenance) and an experiential learning activity. These hands-on activities will help teens build skills to adhere to 1) their calorie goal (1,400 - 1,600 calories/day) and 2) the prescribed timing for consumption (\>50% of their energy needs consumed before 3PM every day of the week. Sample meal plans will be provided to help with adherence. .

Participants randomized to the Dinner (DIN) group will participate in the same 16-week intervention as those in the BFL group; however, the topics covered in the experiential learning session will pertain to skills needed to adhere to prescribed calorie goals NOT to timing. They will be instructed to consume \>50% of their energy needs after 3PM daily.; however, given that most teens consume the bulk of their calories after 5PM, the focus will be on general calorie goals vs. timing., Teens in this group will also be provided sample meal plans that outline how to spread out their calorie intake across breakfast (200), lunch (300), after school snack (200 calories), Dinner (700 calories), after dinner snack (200 calories for 1,600 calorie diet only).