There has been a dramatic increase in the prevalence of overweight and obese children in all regions of Canada. In fact, Canada has one of the highest rates of childhood obesity compared to other developed countries. This is disconcerting because this preventative condition is strongly associated with the risk of future disease, such as adult obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular problems and psychosocial distress. This trend is a driving factor to develop effective strategies for assessment and intervention.