The Endo Kids Podcast-Where little hormones meet big answers.

In this episode of Endo Kids Podcast, Dr. Rinku Mehra discusses the critical issue of eating disorders in children and teenagers with Dr. Weronika Gondek, a specialist in the field. They explore the misconceptions surrounding eating disorders, the various signs and symptoms parents should watch for, and the importance of recognizing that these disorders can affect individuals of all shapes, sizes, and genders. The conversation emphasizes the psychological and physical consequences of eating disorders, the role of parents and coaches in prevention and treatment, and the need for a comprehensive treatment team. Dr. Gondek provides insights into how parents can take action if they suspect their child is struggling with an eating disorder, highlighting the importance of open communication and seeking professional help.

00:00 Welcome to EndoKids

01:57 Meet Dr Gondek

03:49 Eating Disorders Beyond Stereotypes

05:20 Who Gets Missed Athletes Boys

07:02 Types of Eating Disorders

09:17 Hormones and Missing Periods

10:42 Psychological and Physical Signs

16:27 Why Amenorrhea Matters

17:42 Sports Discipline vs Disorder

21:06 Boys Fitness Culture Warning Signs

25:20 What Parents Should Do First

26:36 Treatment Team and Family Therapy

29:32 When It Is an Emergency

30:43 Key Takeaways and Resources

Medical Disclaimer:

The information shared on The Endo Kids Podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. Please consult your child’s healthcare provider for personalized medical guidance.

In this episode, Dr. Rinku Mehra explains the nuances of bone age x-rays in pediatric endocrinology, clarifying what they reveal about skeletal maturity, growth potential, and how to interpret results accurately.

00:00 Welcome to EndoKids

00:55 Bone Age Basics

02:40 Chronological vs Bone Age

04:36 How the X Ray Works

05:59 Reading Variability

06:52 Delayed Bone Age

09:42 Advanced Bone Age

11:39 Predicting Adult Height

15:02 Growth Hormone Questions

17:33 Real World Examples

19:03 Questions to Ask

20:46 Key Takeaways and Wrap

Medical Disclaimer:

The information shared on The Endo Kids Podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. Please consult your child’s healthcare provider for personalized medical guidance.

In this insightful interview, Sammy Barnett shares her personal journey from childhood panic disorder to becoming a clinical nutritionist. She explores the deep connection between food, anxiety, resilience, and mental health, offering practical advice for parents and children to foster healthier relationships with food and reduce anxiety.

00:00 Sammy's Journey: From Panic to Nutrition

03:09 The Role of Nutrition in Mental Health

05:54 Engaging Kids: Nutrition Education Through Entertainment

08:58 Understanding Eating Behaviors in Anxious Children

12:06 Improving Child Mental Well-Being Through Nutrition

15:11 The Complicated Landscape of Kids' Nutrition

17:55 Marketing and Misconceptions in Nutrition

19:26 The Lunchbox Dilemma

21:10 Understanding Weight and Health

22:37 Anxiety as a Teacher

26:10 Misunderstanding Anxious Children

28:28 Building Resilience in Children

30:19 Encouraging Healthy Eating

33:28 Debunking Food Myths

36:54 Final Thoughts on Parenting and Health

Medical Disclaimer:The information shared on The Endo Kids Podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. Please consult your child’s healthcare provider for personalized medical guidance.

In this episode, pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Lindsey Waldman interviews Dr. Rachel Casey about puberty and menstrual health in girls. They discuss normal age ranges for periods, signs to watch for, managing irregularities, and how to support young girls through puberty.

00:00 Introduction to Pediatric Gynecology

02:13 Understanding Menstrual Cycles

05:52 Normal vs. Abnormal Periods

11:51 Managing Painful Periods

16:55 Treatment Options for Irregular Periods

20:46 Tips for Parents and Open Conversations

Medical Disclaimer:The information shared on The Endo Kids Podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. Please consult your child’s healthcare provider for personalized medical guidance.

This episode explores the recent renaming of PCOS to P M O S, highlighting the shift in understanding this complex endocrine and metabolic condition. Dr. Rinku Mehra discusses the implications for diagnosis, treatment, and long-term health, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive approach beyond reproductive symptoms.

00:00

Introduction to PMOS: A Major Shift in Terminology

03:18

Understanding PMOS: Beyond Ovarian Cysts

07:23

The Role of Insulin Resistance in PMOS

11:27

The Emotional and Mental Health Impact of PMOS

14:51

Fertility Myths and Realities in PMOS

15:58

Treatment Approaches for PMOS

16:26

Guidance for Parents on PMOS Symptoms

17:33

Common Questions About PMOS

20:18

outro.mp3

Medical Disclaimer:The information shared on The Endo Kids Podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. Please consult your child’s healthcare provider for personalized medical guidance.

This episode explores the rising trend of teen boys using substances like SARMs, steroids, and peptides to enhance their appearance rapidly. Dr. Waldman discusses where they get these substances, the risks involved, and how parents can recognize warning signs and start important conversations.

00:00The Looksmaxxing Trap: What Teen Boys Are Secretly Taking to Build Muscle, Burn Fat, and Change Their Bodies

02:27Understanding SARMs and Their Effects

05:15The Risks of Steroid Use

07:45The Dangers of Stacking Substances

10:24Peptides: A Growing Trend

12:58Recognizing Red Flags and Starting Conversations

Medical Disclaimer:

The information shared on The Endo Kids Podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. Please consult your child’s healthcare provider for personalized medical guidance.

Dr. Rinku Mehra and Dr. Lindsey Waldman of the Endo Kids Podcast explain congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), focusing on classic CAH due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. They review how CAH is often detected through an abnormal newborn screen and confirmed with bloodwork (including 17-hydroxyprogesterone) and electrolytes, sometimes with genetic testing. They describe CAH as a genetic condition causing low cortisol (and sometimes low aldosterone) with excess androgens, which can lead to salt-wasting, dehydration, vomiting, and ambiguous genitalia in girls while boys may appear normal. They also discuss non-classic CAH presenting later with early puberty signs, acne, excess hair, or irregular periods. Management includes replacing missing hormones with hydrocortisone, sometimes fludrocortisone and salt supplements, monitoring growth, labs, and bone age, and using stress-dose steroids during significant illness or injury.

00:00 Welcome to Endo Kids

01:06 Episode Topic CAH

01:25 Newborn Screen Call

03:04 What Is CAH

05:02 Why It Happens

06:37 Types and Severity

08:21 Symptoms and Signs

10:13 Testing and Diagnosis

11:42 Treatment Basics

12:49 Follow Up and Monitoring

13:21 Stress Dosing Plan

15:01 Living Well With CAH

16:22 Wrap Up and Resources

Medical Disclaimer:

The information shared on The Endo Kids Podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. Please consult your child’s healthcare provider for personalized medical guidance.

Dr. Rinku Mehra and Dr. Lindsey Waldman of the Endo Kids Podcast explain what growth hormone is, how it works through IGF-1, and why it affects more than height, including bone, muscle, fat metabolism, and energy. They stress that growth is a pattern over time and that “wait and see” can cost valuable time, so families should track accurate measurements, growth velocity, and consider bone age X-rays and labs when concerned. They review FDA-approved indications for treatment, including growth hormone deficiency, Turner syndrome, chronic kidney disease, being small for gestational age without catch-up by age 2, and select cases of idiopathic short stature. They describe daily vs weekly injections, insurance considerations, monitoring with periodic bloodwork and annual bone age, potential side effects (site reactions, headaches, hip/joint pain, increased intracranial pressure, blood sugar changes, rare scoliosis), and note growth hormone is not helpful once growth plates are closed.

00:00 Welcome to Endo Kids

00:55 Today’s Topic Growth Hormone

01:36 Why Timing Matters

02:23 How Growth Hormone Works

04:34 Who Actually Needs It

07:23 Tracking Growth the Right Way

10:28 How Treatment Is Given

12:32 Daily vs Weekly Shots

14:03 Side Effects and Monitoring

19:11 Key Questions Before Starting

20:05 When It’s Too Late to Grow

22:40 Wrap Up and Resources

Medical Disclaimer:The information shared on The Endo Kids Podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. Please consult your child’s healthcare provider for personalized medical guidance.

Dr. Rinku Mehra and Dr. Lindsey Waldman discuss pediatric bone health, explaining that bones are metabolically active and shaped by osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and osteocytes, with growth plates driving length until estrogen closes them in puberty. They emphasize peak bone mass, noting 40–60% is built in adolescence and ~90% by late adolescence/early adulthood. Practical guidance includes age-based calcium needs (1–3: 700 mg/day; 4–8: 1,000 mg/day; 9–18: 1,300 mg/day) spread throughout the day, calcium-rich foods (milk, yogurt, cheese, fortified plant milks, calcium-set tofu, leafy greens), and vitamin D (~600 IU/day) from sunlight, fortified foods, fatty fish, or supplements. They highlight weight-bearing/high-impact activity for bone density, key hormones (GH/IGF-1, estrogen, testosterone), risk factors (celiac, IBD, arthritis, kidney disease, long-term steroids, some anti-seizure meds), evaluation considerations (fracture history, growth, DEXA interpreted with pediatric norms), and red flags such as multiple long-bone fractures or vertebral fractures.

00:00 Welcome to Endo Kids

01:40 Bones as Living Tissue

02:54 Growth Plates and Peak Bone

04:25 Calcium Needs and Foods

06:42 Vitamin D and Key Nutrients

08:14 Exercise That Builds Bone

09:34 Hormones and Bone Health

11:26 Risk Factors and Medications

12:18 Testing and Red Flags

14:39 Daily Bone Healthy Habits

17:18 Common Questions and Supplements

20:24 Myth Busting Bone Health

23:23 Talk to Kids and Wrap Up

Medical Disclaimer: The information shared on The Endo Kids Podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. Please consult your child’s healthcare provider for personalized medical guidance.

Pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Lindsey Waldman welcomes registered dietitian nutritionist Shelby Santin, who specializes in eating disorders, to discuss adolescent nutrition, misconceptions, and supportive family strategies. Santin explains her role goes beyond meal plans to address food rules, fears, and barriers to adequate intake, emphasizing that eating disorders can affect anyone and are often missed due to stereotypes about body size. She outlines initial steps after referral: thorough history, assessing nutritional adequacy, coordinating medical evaluation, and building a family-supported plan. They discuss distinguishing eating disorders from picky eating, and how to talk about weight and food using neutral language and avoiding “good/bad” labels, including recommending clinicians discuss weight concerns with parents without the child present. Santin stresses early intervention, notes recovery timelines vary (often 6–12 months or longer), recommends two books, and shares how families can contact her for virtual or in-person care.

00:00 Show Welcome

00:55 Meet Shelby Santin

02:42 What Dietitians Do

03:46 Eating Disorder Myths

04:49 First Appointment Steps

05:44 Picky Eating Or Disorder

07:24 Talking About Weight

10:27 Neutral Food Language

12:16 Treatment Phases

14:04 Recovery Timeline

16:14 Key Takeaways

18:00 Books and Resources

18:47 Contact and Wrap Up

20:08 Final Outro

Medical Disclaimer: The information shared on The Endo Kids Podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. Please consult your child’s healthcare provider for personalized medical guidance.