Family in Focus®

If you have ever been told to focus on your child’s BMI, weight, or eating habits and felt like something wasn’t adding up, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Family in Focus, I unpack the truth about BMI, pediatric weight guidance, and why the traditional “eat less, move more” approach often fails families.

Because it is not your child who is failing.

It may be the system.

We explore how BMI became a standard tool in healthcare, despite never being designed for individual health, and how diet culture, fitness culture, and medicine have merged into a single message focused on controlling bodies.

This episode also introduces a new way to think about children’s health, one that shifts away from numbers and toward relationships with food, body, and connection.

In this episode:

• Why BMI is a flawed measure of individual health
• How weight-focused messaging impacts kids and families
• The problem with “eat less, move more”
• How diet culture shows up in medical care
• A healthier, more sustainable approach to supporting your child

Watch the full video episode on YouTube.

New episodes every Wednesday.

Join The Exhale, my newsletter for parents who want less stress around food, body image, and weight concerns and more confidence at the dinner table:
https://www.wendyschofermd.com/the-exhale

Learn more about working together:
https://www.wendyschofermd.com

To schedule a consult:
https://wendyschofermdscheduling.as.me/consult

Follow along and continue the conversation:

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Books & Resources Mentioned:

If you want to go deeper into understanding diet culture, weight stigma, and how these messages impact families, these are powerful places to start:

Anti-Diet by Christy Harrison
A deep dive into how diet culture became embedded in our society, healthcare, and beliefs about health and body size.

Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture by Virginia Sole-Smith
A practical and eye-opening guide for parents navigating body image, food, and weight conversations with their kids.

Starfish by Lisa Fipps
A middle-grade novel that offers a powerful look at how weight stigma affects kids and how they experience messages about their bodies from the world around them.

While I am a doctor, I am not your doctor. This podcast is for education, not medical advice.

If you have ever left your child’s doctor’s appointment feeling confused about BMI, worried about your child’s health, or unsure how to respond to conversations about weight, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Family in Focus, I break down what is often missing from pediatric conversations about BMI and weight, and how weight stigma in children is impacting both their health and their relationship with food.

Because it is not your child that needs fixing.

And it is not you either.

It is the approach.

Many families leave these appointments with numbers, labels, and a plan focused on weight, but without support for what actually drives long term health and well being.

This episode walks through what the research shows about weight stigma, how it contributes to disordered eating patterns, and why weight-focused care can backfire, especially for kids.

We shift the focus away from numbers and toward what truly matters: your child’s relationship with food, their body, and themselves.

I discuss:

• Why focusing on weight can increase shame instead of improving child health
• How weight stigma becomes internalized and influences eating behaviors
• What research shows about dieting, restriction, and long term outcomes
• What is missing from typical pediatric weight conversations
• How to support your child without reinforcing fear, pressure, or body shame

If this episode leaves you with more questions than answers, that is a good place to start. It means you are beginning to see the bigger picture and think differently about what your child actually needs.

New episodes air every Wednesday.

Watch the full episode on the podcast.

Join The Exhale, my newsletter for parents who want less stress around food, body image, and weight concerns and more confidence at the dinner table:
https://www.wendyschofermd.com/the-exhale

Learn more about working together:
https://www.wendyschofermd.com

To schedule a consult:
https://wendyschofermdscheduling.as.me/consult

Follow along and continue the conversation:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyschofermd/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyschofermd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendyschofermd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-schofer-md/

While I am a doctor, I am not your doctor. This podcast is for education, not medical advice.

If your child has ever said something like “I hate how I look,” and you felt unsure what to say next, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Family in Focus, I share a different way to respond in those moments when your child is struggling with body image, food, or how they see themselves.

Because your child does not need you to fix it.

They need you to stay with them in it.

Drawing from improv, I introduce a simple framework that can help you respond with more connection and less pressure, even when the moment feels heavy or uncertain.

When kids open up about how they feel, it can trigger a strong instinct to reassure, correct, or make it better as quickly as possible. But those responses can unintentionally shut down the conversation.

This episode walks you through how to shift from fixing to connecting so your child feels seen, supported, and safe to keep sharing.

I discuss:

• Why your instinct to fix is a natural stress response
• What kids actually need when they talk about body image or food
• How the improv principle “yes, and” can change the way you respond
• The ABC framework for staying present in hard moments
• How to acknowledge your child’s experience without reinforcing the fear
• Why curiosity builds more trust than correction
• How connection helps reduce stress and supports long term change

If you want to feel more confident responding in these moments and create more connection with your child, this episode offers a simple and powerful place to start.

New episodes air every Wednesday.

Join The Exhale, my newsletter for parents who want less stress around food, body image, and weight concerns and more confidence at the dinner table:
https://www.wendyschofermd.com/the-exhale

Learn more about working together:
https://www.wendyschofermd.com

To schedule a consult:
https://wendyschofermdscheduling.as.me/consult

Follow along and continue the conversation:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyschofermd/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyschofermd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendyschofermd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-schofer-md/

While I am a doctor, I am not your doctor. This podcast is for education, not medical advice.

If you have ever felt stuck trying to do things “the right way” for your child, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Family in Focus, I explore how perfectionism shapes the way we parent and creates stress, pressure, and disconnection in everyday family life.

Because it is rarely about getting it right.

Perfectionism often shows up as the belief that things need to look a certain way before we begin. It can lead to overthinking, hesitation, and avoidance, making it harder to take action or connect with your child in meaningful ways.

Perfectionism often shows up as the belief that things need to look a certain way before we begin.

And when perfectionism takes the lead, it does not just affect you. It influences your child’s confidence, behavior, and the patterns that develop at home.

This episode introduces a more flexible and compassionate approach to parenting, helping you recognize where perfectionism may be keeping you stuck and how small shifts can create more connection and ease in your family.

We discuss:

• How perfectionism shows up in parenting and daily family life
• Why the need to “get it right” can lead to stress and disconnection
• How perfectionism contributes to avoidance and feeling stuck
• The impact of perfectionism on your child’s confidence and behavior
• Why letting go of perfect creates more connection and flexibility
• How to shift from pressure and control to curiosity and awareness
• A simple way to take action without needing everything to be perfect

If you want to feel less pressure, reduce stress, and create more connection in your family, this episode offers a new perspective on perfectionism and how to move forward.

Watch the full video version of this episode on the podcast.

New episodes air every Wednesday.

Join The Exhale, my newsletter for parents who want less stress around food, body image, and weight concerns and more confidence at the dinner table:

https://www.wendyschofermd.com/the-exhale

Learn more about working together:
https://www.wendyschofermd.com

To schedule a consult:
https://wendyschofermdscheduling.as.me/consult

Follow along and continue the conversation:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyschofermd/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyschofermd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendyschofermd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-schofer-md/

While I am a doctor, I am not your doctor. This podcast is for education, not medical advice.

If you have ever felt overwhelmed trying to help your child with eating, weight, or health—this conversation is for you.

In this episode of Family in Focus, I’m joined by Joey Skelton, MD, MS, FAAP and Dara Garner-Edwards, MSW, LCSW, co-authors of Your Child Is Not Their Weight: Parenting in a Size-Obsessed World.

Together, we explore how to support your child without shame, pressure, or food battles—and why focusing on weight often does more harm than good.

Dr. Skelton and Dara bring nearly two decades of experience working with families through the Brenner FIT Program at Wake Forest University, where they focus on practical, family-centered care that creates lasting change.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why weight-focused conversations can backfire
• What children actually hear when we talk about food
• The impact of pressure, restriction, and “fixing”
• How to support your child’s health without shame
• Why connection—not control—creates real change
• The power of family meals and reducing stress

If you’ve ever felt stuck or unsure how to help your child, this episode offers a new way forward.

Joey Skelton, MD, MS, FAAP – Pediatrician and professor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, leading the Brenner FIT Program.

Dara Garner-Edwards, MSW, LCSW – Family counselor specializing in helping families create sustainable change without shame or judgment.

Along with Melissa Moses, MS, RDN, LDN (co-author and registered dietitian), they wrote:

📘 Your Child Is Not Their Weight: Parenting in a Size-Obsessed World
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Child-Their-Weight-Size-Obsessed/dp/1610028546

Join The Exhale newsletter:
https://www.wendyschofermd.com/the-exhale

Learn more or work with me:
https://www.wendyschofermd.com

Follow along:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyschofermd
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyschofermd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendyschofermd
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-schofer-md

While I am a doctor, I am not your doctor. This podcast is for education, not medical advice.

If you are frustrated by constant conversations about your child’s eating habits, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Family in Focus, I explain why focusing on habits often keeps families stuck and how shifting your attention to patterns can completely change the way you approach eating behaviors at home.

Because it is rarely just about habits.

What looks like a habit on the surface is often the visible tip of a much larger pattern shaped by stress, emotions, relationships, environment, and family dynamics. When parents begin to look beneath the surface, they gain a clearer understanding of what is actually influencing their child’s eating behavior.

This episode introduces a pattern-based way of thinking that helps parents move away from pressure, control, and blame and toward curiosity, awareness, and meaningful change.

We discuss:

• Why focusing on habits alone often leads to frustration
• The difference between habits and deeper behavioral patterns
• How stress, emotions, and environment shape eating behaviors
• Why small shifts in family patterns create lasting change
• How curiosity can replace control in conversations about food
• Why noticing patterns is the first step toward shifting them
• A simple experiment parents can try this week to start seeing patterns differently

If you want to reduce tension around food and understand what is really shaping your child’s eating behaviors, this episode offers a new lens that can change the conversation in your home.

New episodes air every Wednesday.

Join The Exhale, my newsletter for parents who want less stress around food, body image, and weight concerns and more confidence at the dinner table:
https://www.wendyschofermd.com/the-exhale

Learn more about working together:
https://www.wendyschofermd.com

To schedule a consult:
https://wendyschofermdscheduling.as.me/consult

Follow along and continue the conversation:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyschofermd/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyschofermd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendyschofermd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-schofer-md/

While I am a doctor, I am not your doctor. This podcast is for education, not medical advice.

If you are worried about eating disorders, disordered eating, dieting, or the intense focus on weight in today’s culture, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Family in Focus, I explore what actually happens when weight becomes the hidden focus in your home and how that quiet shift can shape your child’s relationship with food, body image, and self-worth.

Because it is rarely just about weight.

When weight becomes the center of conversations, concerns, or decision-making, it often creates stress patterns that influence eating behaviors, emotional regulation, and family dynamics. Over time, those patterns can increase risk for disordered eating.

This episode is about awareness, prevention, and protection.

We discuss:

• The rise in eating disorders and disordered eating
• How weight-focused thinking increases stress in families
• Why fear-based approaches to prevention often backfire
• The connection between stress, control, and eating behaviors
• How diet culture and social messaging shape kids’ body image
• Why awareness is the first step toward prevention
• How to build protective patterns that support a healthy relationship with food and body

If you want to reduce stress around food, decrease eating disorder risk, and build long-term protection for your child’s relationship with their body, this episode offers a thoughtful place to begin.

New episodes air every Wednesday.

Join The Exhale, my newsletter for parents who want less stress around food, body image, and weight concerns and more confidence at the dinner table:
https://www.wendyschofermd.com/the-exhale

Learn more about working together:
https://www.wendyschofermd.com

To schedule a consult:
https://wendyschofermdscheduling.as.me/consult

Follow along and continue the conversation:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyschofermd/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyschofermd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendyschofermd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-schofer-md/

While I am a doctor, I am not your doctor. This podcast is for education, not medical advice.

If you are struggling with your child’s eating habits, mealtime battles, picky eating, or concerns about weight, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Family in Focus, I share 3 simple steps to transform your child’s relationship with food by addressing the emotional patterns and nervous system dynamics happening at home.

Because it is not just about the food. It is about the patterns.

Your child’s eating habits are shaped by stress, autonomy, family dynamics, and emotional regulation. When parents pause, get curious, and lead with connection, meaningful change becomes possible without shame, pressure, or power struggles.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why focusing only on food often backfires
• The difference between habits and patterns
• How your nervous system impacts your child’s eating behavior
• Why regulation and connection come before behavior change
• How to build a healthier relationship with food at home

If you want to improve your child’s eating habits without control or shame, this episode gives you a practical starting point.

New episodes air every Wednesday.

Join The Exhale, my newsletter for parents who want less stress around food, body image, and weight concerns and more confidence at the dinner table:
https://www.wendyschofermd.com/the-exhale

Learn more about working together:
https://www.wendyschofermd.com

To schedule a consult:
https://wendyschofermdscheduling.as.me/consult

Follow along and continue the conversation:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyschofermd/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyschofermd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendyschofermd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-schofer-md/

While I am a doctor, I am not your doctor. This podcast is for education, not medical advice.

If you are worried about childhood obesity, BMI percentiles, or your child’s eating habits, this episode is for you.

As a pediatrician, I see how often parents are told to focus on weight, growth charts, and body mass index, or BMI. But when we focus only on the number, we miss the deeper factors influencing your child’s health, emotional eating patterns, and relationship with food.

In this episode of Family in Focus, I explain why weight is often just the tip of the iceberg and what parents need to understand beneath the surface to support healthy and sustainable change.

So much of what we are taught to focus on is what we can see. The number on the scale. The BMI percentile. The growth chart. The food choices. When those numbers rise, it can feel urgent and scary.

But what if weight is not the root issue?

This episode explores the factors that influence child weight gain, eating habits, and overall health, including genetics, environment, hormones, social influences, and emotions.

I also share a story from my pediatric practice that changed the way I approach conversations about child weight and growth. It is a reminder that behind every number is a child navigating weight stigma, body image pressure, and emotional experiences we cannot see.

This episode is not about ignoring health. It is about understanding it more fully.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why focusing only on weight, BMI, and growth charts can cause harm

The iceberg metaphor and what influences child weight beyond food

How genetics, environment, and hormones impact eating habits

Emotional eating in kids and how feelings shape behavior

The impact of weight stigma and body image pressure on children and teens

Why connection based parenting creates healthier long term outcomes

At Family in Focus, I help parents improve their child’s eating habits and health without shame, food battles, or pressure. This episode is an invitation to slow down, get curious, and support your child’s health in a way that builds trust instead of fear.

New episodes air every Wednesday.

Join The Exhale, my newsletter for parents who want less stress around food, body image, and child weight concerns and more confidence in how they are supporting their kids.
https://www.wendyschofermd.com/the-exhale

If you would like support putting this into practice in your home, learn more about how I work with families at:
https://www.wendyschofermd.com

To schedule a consult:
https://wendyschofermdscheduling.as.me/consult

Follow along and continue the conversation:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyschofermd/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyschofermd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendyschofermd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-schofer-md/

While I am a doctor, I am not your doctor. This podcast is for education, not medical advice.

If you are trying to help your child make changes and it feels like nothing is working, this episode is for you.

I hear it every day from parents. Food feels like a battle. Screens feel impossible to limit. Movement feels forced. And no matter how hard you try, it can start to feel like you are failing over and over again.

In this episode, I want to say this clearly. You are not failing.

What is failing is the approach that has been handed to you. The plans, prescriptions, and one size fits all advice that assumes change should happen through control and pressure. I know this because I used to practice that way too. As a pediatrician and a parent, I followed the plans exactly, both in my office and in my own home. And they did not work.

This episode is about the shift that changed everything for me.

Instead of starting with what needs to be fixed, we start with what is already working. Even when things feel hard, there is something going well. That one thing becomes stable ground. It becomes the place where trust grows and where real change can begin.

In this episode, I talk about:

-Why feeling stuck is such a common parenting experience

-How prescriptive approaches create frustration and shame

-Why starting with what is going well changes the entire conversation

-A simple practice you can use today with yourself and your child

At Family in Focus, I help parents lead change without harm. This episode is an invitation to stop proving you are not failing and start building from the strengths that are already there.

New episodes air every Wednesday.

Join The Exhale, my newsletter for parents who want less stress around food and body, and more confidence in how they are supporting their kids.
https://www.wendyschofermd.com/the-exhale

If you would like support putting this into practice in your home, you can learn more about how I work with families at https://www.wendyschofermd.com

To schedule a consult:

https://wendyschofermdscheduling.as.me/consult

Follow along and continue the conversation:

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyschofermd/

-TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyschofermd

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendyschofermd

-LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-schofer-md/

While I am a doctor, I am not your doctor. This podcast is for education, not medical advice.