This issue marks a new feature of the International Journal of Obesity, a Pediatric Obesity focus issue. Every 3 months a selection of the best of the articles devoted to pediatric and adolescent obesity that have been submitted to the IJO will be combined in a single issue. Other manuscripts on pediatric obesity will continue to be published in each issue, but the Pediatric Obesity focus issues will be selected for their high quality and/or as part of a theme issue. Authors are encouraged to submit their best quality work with the promise that their articles will be surrounded by other high-quality articles and will receive special attention by the Journal and by the Nature Publishing Company. The Editors of IJO are fortunate to have as Guest Editors for these special issues, two internationally respected Pediatric Obesity specialists, Drs Angelo Pietrobelli and Kate Steinbeck. Authors are encouraged to contact Drs Pietrobelli or Steinbeck if they have questions about pediatric obesity manuscripts, or they may contact Drs Ian MacDonald or Richard Atkinson, Editors of IJO. Of particular interest are high-quality review articles, and in the future, IJO will try to publish one review with each Pediatric Obesity focus issue. Authors should contact the Editors before submitting reviews.