The effects of dietary counselling on food and nutrient intake and weight loss were studied over a two-year period in 32 obese children (relative weight greater than 120%) with intensive treatment (Group I) and in 16 obese children treated in a school health-care setting (Group II). The control group (Group III) comprised 29 normal-weight children (relative weight less than 120%). The children were 6-16 years old. The obese children were treated for one year and observed for another year. Food consumption data were collected by a four-day food record method. At baseline there were no differences in food consumption or nutrient intake between obese and normal-weight children. During treatment the children in Group I reduced their mean daily fat intake (P less than 0.001) and this reduction was maintained throughout the observation period. In Groups II and III no change was observed in mean daily fat intake. The relative body weight decreased by 16.2% in Group I (P less than 0.001) during the first year and the lower body weight was maintained during the observation year. No significant weight reduction was observed in Group II. The decrease in energy intake was significantly correlated with the reduction in body fat mass over the first year (rs = 0.50; P = 0.05, n = 16) in obese children passing through their pubertal growth spurt and to the reduction in relative weight over the first year (rs = 0.90; P less than 0.05, n = 5), as well as to the decrease in fat mass over the second year (rs = 0.70; P less than 0.05, n = 11) in adolescents beyond their growth spurt. In conclusion, intensive treatment resulted in decreased fat intake and also led to a reduction in relative weight, whereas a conventional approach appeared to be ineffective with regard to nutrient intake and weight loss.