<qa>  How many obese pre-pubertal children will be recruited for this study?Up to thirty-two obese pre-pubertal children will be recruited for this study. Up to sixteen will be boys and up to sixteen will be girls. The study will be a double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial using a randomized, but counter-balanced design. This will ensure equal numbers in the two groups that the children are randomized to, for each sex. The control group will receive placebo and the intervention group will receive essential amino acids plus arginine. The supplements essential amino acids plus arginine, and placebo will be given in the form of a drink twice a day for a total of 8 weeks. Both the participants and the investigators will be blinded to group assignment. 