Most of us don’t realize how early body shame started for us until we’re adults.
Until we have more distance and more language. Until we can see diet culture for what it is—and recognize all the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways it showed up when we were kids…even in places that were supposed to feel safe.
A comment at a doctor’s office. A focus on weight that overshadowed everything else. A special snack we were only allowed to have once in a while. A quiet shift in how we started to think about food, or our bodies, or ourselves.
And, as you have likely experienced, those moments don’t just stay in childhood. They shape the way we learn to live in our bodies.
In today’s episode, I have the honor of speaking with Dr. Lauren Hartman, a weight-inclusive pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist with expertise in eating disorders. She works with patients from (roughly) age 10 through their late twenties—an area of practice she tells me is “the best kept secret in medicine.”
Dr. Hartman sees, in real time, just how early body image distress and disordered eating can begin—and how often those behaviors are missed or even reinforced because they’re framed as “healthy.”
Her work sits right at the intersection of prevention and repair—supporting young people in real time, while also helping parents, educators, and clinicians navigate conversations that so often feel loaded or confusing.
Her new book is built around exactly that: giving people practical tools—scripts, language, and strategies—for talking about bodies, food, and health in a way that doesn’t reinforce shame or stigma.
Because most of us aren’t trying to get this wrong…we just haven’t been shown another way.
In our conversation, we get into:
Why eating disorders are showing up in younger children—and how they often begin as “healthy” changes
The subtle ways diet culture has evolved into wellness, making it harder to spot when something isn’t actually supportive
What parents can look for early on (hint: it’s not just about weight)
The limitations—and real harm—of weight-centric pediatric care
A nuanced look at GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy in adolescents, including what’s missing from the conversation
How to repair moments where harm has happened—and why that matters more than getting it perfect
As I always say, this episode isn’t about doing everything “right.” It’s about understanding how much these early experiences shape a person’s relationship with their body—and what becomes possible when we shift the conversation.
Because whether you’re raising kids, working with them, or unpacking your own story, this likely hits close to home. And hopefully, it gives you something we’ve all needed in this space: A way forward that feels kind, nuanced, inclusive, and human.
If this episode brought anything up for you, I’d really love to hear. These conversations tend to open doors we didn’t even realize were closed.
The comments are open to everyone on this one.
When you think back, what’s one of the earliest memories you have of becoming aware of your body?
What messages did you absorb about food or “health” growing up—especially from places that were meant to support you?
And if you’re in a position now to speak differently—to a child, a client, or even yourself—what might that sound like?
And before you go, it would mean a lot if you tapped the like button—it helps more people find this work. You can also share the episode with someone who might need it, whether that’s a parent, a provider, or a friend who’s been doing their own unlearning.
