To compare the effectiveness of family-based behavioural social facilitation treatment (FBSFT) versus treatment as usual (TAU) in children with severe obesity. Parallel-design, nonblinded, randomized controlled trial conducted at a Norwegian obesity outpatient clinic. Children aged 6-18 years referred to the clinic between 2014 and 2018 were invited to participate. Participants were randomly allocated using sequentially numbered, opaqued, sealed envelopes. FBSFT (n = 59) entailed 17 sessions of structured cognitive behavioural treatment, TAU (n = 55) entailed standard lifestyle counselling sessions every third month for 1 year. Primary outcomes included changes in body mass index standard deviation score (BMI SDS) and percentage above the International Obesity Task Force cut-off for overweight (%IOTF-25). Secondary outcomes included changes in sleep, physical activity, andeating behaviour. From pre-to posttreatment there was a statistically significant difference in change in both BMI SDS (0.19 units, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.10-0.28, p < .001) and p < .001) between FBSFT and TAU groups. FBSFT participants achieved significant reductions in mean BMI SDS (0.16 units, (95%CI: À0.22 to À0.10, p < .001) and %IOTF-25 (6.53%, 95% CI: À8.45 to À4.60, p < .001), whereas in TAU nonsignificant changes were observed in BMI SDS (0.03 units, 95% CI: À0.03 to 0.09, p = .30) and %IOTF-25 (À1.04%, 95% CI: À2.99 to À0.90, p = .29). More FBSFT participants (31.5%) had clinically meaningful BMI SDS reductions of ≥0.25 from pre-to posttreatment than in TAU (13.0%, p = .021). Regarding secondary outcomes, only changes in sleep timing differed significantly between groups. FBSFT improved weight-related outcomes compared to TAU. Yngvild S. Danielsen and Petur B. Juliusson are joint senior authors.