Before You Talk to Your Child About Their Weight, Ask Yourself This
What happens when comments about a child’s body stay with them long after childhood? And how can you protect your child from carrying the same shame, fear, and judgment many of us grew up with?
In this special episode of Family in Focus, I’m joined by Lisa Fipps, award-winning author of the middle-grade novel Starfish. Lisa shares how her experiences with weight-based bullying inspired the book and why its message continues to resonate with children and adults.
We talk about weight stigma, body shame, bullying, and the words children can carry for a lifetime. Most importantly, Lisa challenges us to look inward before reacting to concerns about a child’s weight or body.
In this episode:
• How Lisa’s experiences with weight-based bullying inspired Starfish
• Why comments about a child’s body can stay with them for decades
• How weight stigma can show up at home, school, and in healthcare
• Why struggles with food and eating disorders can be hidden in plain sight
• How your own experiences with weight and bullying can shape your parenting
• The question to ask yourself before trying to change your child’s weight or eating habits
Chapters
00:00 Starfish by Lisa Fipps and Why It Matters
00:47 Welcome to Family in Focus
02:24 Lisa Fipps on Writing Starfish
05:01 Weight Stigma and Body Image
07:33 Bullying and Its Lasting Impact
09:44 Coping, Food, and Eating Disorders
12:03 Cultural Pressure Around Weight and Bodies
14:32 Why Sharing Our Stories Matters
16:54 How Parents Shape a Child’s Body Image
19:23 What Starfish Teaches Us About Belonging
22:34 When Readers See Themselves in Starfish
26:42 How Stories Can Help Us Heal
32:15 Raising Kids With Empathy
38:28 What Parents Can Do About Weight Concerns
Watch the full video episode on YouTube.
New episodes every Wednesday.
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Connect with Lisa Fipps
Website: https://authorlisafipps.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorlisafipps/
About Lisa Fipps
Lisa Fipps is the award-winning author of Starfish, a middle-grade novel about weight-based bullying, body image, and self-acceptance. Starfish received 13 awards, including a 2022 Michael L. Printz Honor. Lisa is also a former journalist and library marketing director.
About Dr. Wendy Schofer
Dr. Wendy Schofer is a board-certified pediatrician with more than 20 years of experience helping families build healthier relationships with food, body image, and emotional well-being. Through Family in Focus, she shares evidence-based, compassionate parenting strategies that help families thrive.
While Dr. Wendy Schofer is a physician, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.
This episode explores parenting conversations about children’s weight and body image, weight stigma, body shame, weight-based bullying, eating disorders, and helping children build healthier relationships with food and their bodies. Featuring Lisa Fipps, award-winning author of Starfish.