Circuits and methods are provided for controlling an intensity of a light-emitting diode (LED) light source. The control is applied through at least an LED drive circuit, a current sense circuit and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to operate in a first state and a second state on a periodic basis, and to control the LED drive circuit in the first and second states during respective time periods based on a load current feedback signal provided by the current sense circuit. The control circuit is configured to generate at least one drive signal for controlling the LED drive circuit and to adjust an operational characteristic of the at least one drive signal or a length of the time periods to adjust an average magnitude of the load current.