Kids, Body Image, GLP-1s, and Disordered Eating: What a Pediatrician Wants You to Know with Dr. Lauren Hartman

About this episode

Abbie and Dr. Lauren Hartman discuss the complexities of adolescent health, body image, and the impact of diet culture on children.

Abbie is joined by adolescent medicine specialist Dr. Lauren Hartman to talk about what it really means to care for kids in a culture obsessed with shrinking them. They explore the rise in eating disorders among younger children, the sneaky evolution of diet culture into “wellness,” and the complicated, high-stakes reality of GLP-1 medications in adolescence. At its heart, this conversation is about protecting kids from shame — and helping parents trust their instincts. In this episode, we discuss: * What adolescent medicine actually is — and why ages 10–25 (and even younger) require specialized, developmentally informed care * The moment that shifted Lauren away from weight-centric medicine * Why disordered eating is on the rise in young kids * How diet culture has become more insidious under the branding of “health,” “wellness,” and “longevity” * Early red flags parents can look for * The impact of social media on both girls and boys — from protein obsession to muscle dysmorphia * What happens when doctors dismiss parental concerns because a child’s BMI is “normal” * A nuanced conversation about GLP-1 medications in adolescents * How to repair harm — whether you’re a parent…

People in this episode

Host: Abbie Attwood

Guest: Dr. Lauren Hartman

Topics covered

• body image
• eating disorders
• diet culture
• GLP-1 medications
• adolescent health
• parenting
• social media impact

Keywords

• adolescent medicine
• disordered eating
• diet culture
• GLP-1
• parenting
• social media
• body image
• wellness

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Aspen Grove Ayam

More episodes of The Full Plate Podcast with Abbie Attwood, MS

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• Is It OCD, Anxiety, or Disordered Eating? The Overlap, the Misdiagnosis, and Why It Matters for Recovery with Dana Colthart, LCSW · May 25, 2026 · 24 min
• Moving Without Punishment: A Weight-Neutral Approach to Exercise with Anna Maltby · May 18, 2026 · 56 min
• Why Girls Are Struggling With Their Bodies More Than Ever with Dr. Charlotte Markey · May 11, 2026 · 55 min
• Dating in Recovery: On Vulnerability, Diet Culture in Relationships, and Finding Someone Who Can Handle the Hard Stuff (Bonus Episode) · May 4, 2026 · 7 min
• "GLP-1 Marketing is Scorched Earth": On Culture, Ethics, and Starvation States with Virgie Tovar · April 27, 2026 · 1h 4m