In the controlled retrospective follow up, (not random) 44 families participated with their 81 children and siblings. The intervention group included 18 families who participated in the "Maccabi Active" program (obesity treatment) in the years 2012-2013 in the northern district, with their 24 children (18 overweight children and 6 siblings). The control group included 26 families with their 57 children (27 children who had been overweight or obese in the years 2012-2013 when they were 8-14 years old and their 30 siblings). These families did not take part in a family based treatment for their overweight child. The parameters were measured at one set point time. All participants from both the control and research groups were evaluated at the follow-up and the data collected at follow-up is being reported collectively for the Retrospective Controlled Research branch.

The Prospective study had only an intervention group (obesity treatment). Forty-two families took part in this study, with 78 children: 48 overweight children and 30 siblings . The parameters were measured in three different times. Before the program (time 1), at the end of the program (after 6 months - time 2) and 8 months after completing the program (time 3).

1. Parents' education groups for nutrition and healthy behavior with a dietician and a social worker every 2 weeks for5 months, for a total of 10 meetings. This part of the intervention aimed at providing parents with effective tools for modification of lifestyle and the family environment.
2. Children's individual therapy consisted of 6 individual meetings with a family physician, a physical therapist specializing in children's physical activity, and a dietician. This part of the intervention aimed at modifying nutrition and lifestyle; the physical therapist can help children incorporate physical activity into their routine.
3. Physical activity groups for the children, with individual physical fitness monitoring. twice a week for 6 months. .

Children Eating Attitudes Test- 26 items. The Children Eating Attitudes has been validated for children and adolescents. The items are rated on a 6-point scale: (1) never, (2) rarely, (3) sometimes, (4) often, (5) usually, and (6) always. Scores range from 0 (minimum) to 78 (maximum). Scores above 20 indicates a high level of concern about dieting, body weight, or problematic eating behaviors. Higher scores (above 20) are considered a worse outcome.

Family Eating and Activity Habits questionnaire (FEAHQ-32) filled out by the participating parents (only in the prospective research group). The FEAHQ is a 32-item self-report instrument designed to assess the eating and activity habits of family members as well as obesogenic factors in the overall home environment (stimulus and behaviour patterns) related to weight. The higher the score, the greater the obsogenic load in a family so its a worse outcome. The lower the score, the less obsogenic load in the family so its a better outcome. There is no minimum or maximum score as reported by Golan & Weizman, 1998 (See reference 5). The score varies from family to family according to the number of persons.The goal is to get a lower score relative to the initial score. The FEAHQ-32 has been validated in English and Hebrew.

This measure was only used to assess the Prospective Research group, as also mentioned under research instruments in the detailed study description.

obesity treatment: 1.Parents' education groups for nutrition and healthy behavior with a dietitian and a social worker every 2 weeks for 5 months, for a total of 10 meetings. This part of the intervention aimed at providing parents with effective tools for modification of lifestyle and the family environment. 2. Children's individual therapy consisted of 6 individual meetings with a family physician, a physical therapist specializing in children.

Children Eating Attitudes Test- 26 items. The Children Eating Attitudes has been validated for children and adolescents. The items are rated on a 6-point scale: (1) never, (2) rarely, (3) sometimes, (4) often, (5) usually, and (6) always. Scores range from 0 (minimum) to 78 (maximum). Scores above 20 indicates a high level of concern about dieting, body weight, or problematic eating behaviors. Higher scores (above 20) are considered a worse outcome.

Obesity research

1. Parents' education groups for nutrition and healthy behavior with a dietitian and a social worker every 2 weeks for 5 months, for a total of 10 meetings. This part of the intervention aimed at providing parents with effective tools for modification of lifestyle and the family environment.
2. Children's individual therapy consisted of 6 individual meetings with a family physician, a physical therapist specializing in children's physi