If you've just been told that your child needs to lose weight and you're feeling worried, overwhelmed, or unsure what to do next, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Family in Focus, I walk you through the first three steps you can take after hearing concerns about your child's weight. Because what you do next matters.

You may be carrying fear, guilt, shame, or an urgent desire to fix the problem as quickly as possible. But rushing into food rules, restriction, or weight-focused strategies often creates more harm than help.

This episode explores why slowing down, getting curious, and shifting your focus away from the number on the scale can help you support your child's health, well-being, and relationship with food without causing unintended harm.

In this episode:
• Why your first reaction to concerns about your child's weight matters more than you think
• How fear, shame, and urgency can influence the choices you make as a parent
• Why weight is only one small piece of your child's overall health
• How getting curious can help you better understand what is happening beneath the surface
• Why focusing on relationships instead of numbers creates more meaningful and lasting change

Chapters:
00:00 Your Child Was Told to Lose Weight. Now What?
02:37 Why Slowing Down Matters More Than a Quick Fix
05:25 Looking Beyond the Scale: Understanding the Whole Child
08:01 Why Relationships Matter More Than Numbers
09:13 How to Set the Tone for Lasting Change
10:25 Next Steps and Resources for Parents

New episodes air every Wednesday.

If you are listening and realizing your child is sneaking food, hiding wrappers, or eating in secret, there is a next step for you.

No More Candy Wrappers Under the Bed is a workshop designed to help you understand why this is happening and how to shift it without shame, control, or power struggles.

You can learn more and sign up here:
https://www.wendyschofermd.com/no-more-candy-wrappers

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-exhale

Learn more about working together:
https://www.wendyschofermd.com

To schedule a consult:
https://wendyschofermdscheduling.as.me/consult

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While I am a doctor, I am not your doctor. This podcast is for education, not medical advice.