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 harm

The iceberg metaphor and what influences child weight beyond food

How genetics, environment, and hormones impact eating habits

Emotional eating in kids and how feelings shape behavior

The impact of weight stigma and body image pressure on children and teens

Why connection based parenting creates healthier long term outcomes

At 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-exhale

If you would like support putting this into practice in your home, learn more about how I work with families at:
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.