A 17-year-old with BMI in the 97th percentile reports frequent late-night snacking and limited physical activity due to screen time. Which initial counseling strategy is most appropriate to reduce obesity risk while respecting adolescent autonomy?

• A. Recommend complete abstinence from all social activities where food is present to eliminate exposure to unhealthy options, irrespective of feasibility or psychosocial consequences.
• B. Collaborative goal-setting to reduce late-night snacks (e.g., set a household-freeze time for kitchen access), encourage 30 minutes/day of preferred activity, and involve peers/family to support behavior change rather than imposing strict bans.
• C. Prescribe a calorie-restricted meal replacement plan and mandate a supervised exercise program without engaging the adolescent in planning, as autonomy undermines adherence.
• D. Ignore dietary habits and focus only on prescribing weight loss medications immediately, since behavioral counseling is ineffective in adolescents.

Answer: (B)