Family in Focus®

If you have ever left your child's well visit feeling like you did something wrong, this episode is for you.In this episode of Family in Focus, I break down the history of BMI, diet culture, and why weight became the focus of your child's doctor visit. Because your doctor did not make up that advice. But understanding where it actually comes from changes everything.Because the message has a history.And that history matters.I take us back to the 1830s, when a Belgian mathematician, not a doctor, not a researcher studying children or health, created the formula we now call BMI. He was explicit that it should never be used to assess individual bodies. And yet nearly two centuries later, it is the primary screening tool used at your child's well visit.I also explore how diet culture became embedded in medicine, why we defaulted to numbers in the first place, and what it means to start countering that culture in your own home.In this episode:-The origins of BMI and why it was never designed for your child-How diet culture entered the doctor's office-Why weight-focused advice activates shame instead of change-The narrow history behind who built our health systems and what got left -out-What it looks like to shift from chasing numbers to building relationshipsNew 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 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 childWatch 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-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/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 HarrisonA 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-SmithA practical and eye-opening guide for parents navigating body image, food, and weight conversations with their kids.Starfish by Lisa FippsA 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 shameIf 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-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 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 changeIf 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-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 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 perfectIf 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-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.