Family in Focus®

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 stressIf you’ve ever felt stuck or unsure how to help your child, this episode offers a new way forward.About Our GuestsJoey 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 Worldhttps://www.amazon.com/Your-Child-Their-Weight-Size-Obsessed/dp/1610028546Join The Exhale newsletter:https://www.wendyschofermd.com/the-exhaleLearn more or work with me:https://www.wendyschofermd.comFollow along:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyschofermdTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyschofermdFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendyschofermdLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-schofer-mdWhile 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 differentlyIf 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-exhaleLearn more about working together:https://www.wendyschofermd.comTo schedule a consult:https://wendyschofermdscheduling.as.me/consultFollow along and continue the conversation:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyschofermd/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyschofermdFacebook: 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 bodyIf 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-exhaleLearn more about working together:https://www.wendyschofermd.comTo schedule a consult:https://wendyschofermdscheduling.as.me/consultFollow along and continue the conversation:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyschofermd/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyschofermdFacebook: 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 backfiresThe difference between habits and patternsHow your nervous system impacts your child’s eating behaviorWhy regulation and connection come before behavior changeHow to build a healthier relationship with food at homeIf 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-exhaleLearn more about working together:https://www.wendyschofermd.comTo schedule a consult:https://wendyschofermdscheduling.as.me/consultFollow along and continue the conversation:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyschofermd/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyschofermdFacebook: 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 harmThe iceberg metaphor and what influences child weight beyond foodHow genetics, environment, and hormones impact eating habitsEmotional eating in kids and how feelings shape behaviorThe impact of weight stigma and body image pressure on children and teensWhy connection based parenting creates healthier long term outcomesAt 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-exhaleIf you would like support putting this into practice in your home, learn more about how I work with families at:https://www.wendyschofermd.comTo schedule a consult:https://wendyschofermdscheduling.as.me/consultFollow along and continue the conversation:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyschofermd/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyschofermdFacebook: 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.