Infants and young children have the ability to regulate their food intake according to their energy needs, and parents play an important role in facilitating their children's self-regulation. When overweight children learn to eat in accordance with feelings of hunger and fullness and learn to soothe themselves without eating, they will reduce their caloric intake to meet their energy needs and normalize their weight. The treatment of a 2-year-old with morbid obesity illustrates these principles.