Raising Kids in Diet Culture: Eating Disorder Prevention, Protection, and Real Conversations with Zoë Bisbing, Body Image Therapist

How do kids learn about bodies and food before anyone even talks about it? Zoë Bisbing, psychotherapist and eating disorder specialist, joins me to unpack the invisible lessons our kids absorb—and how parents can respond to “hard body moments” without shame or overcorrection.

We talk about:

* Zoë’s journey from inpatient eating disorder treatment to prevention work—and how becoming a parent reshaped her lens.

* What kids are really learning about bodies, food, and morality.

* How to respond when a child expresses body distress.

* Why tolerating “body grief” builds resilience and reduces eating disorder risk.

* Why shutting down “I feel fat” with reassurance can accidentally close the door to connection.

* What to actually say when your child brings you a hard body moment.

* How “fix-it” energy can communicate fear—and what it looks like to tolerate discomfort instead.

* Why prevention isn’t about perfection, but about creating an emotional climate where kids aren’t alone in their pain.

* The surprisingly joyful role of simple pleasures—like toaster strudels—in fostering flexible eating.

This episode isn't just for parents. We were all children once, impacted by diet culture in our family and beyond. So this is for anyone who wants to create a home where bodies and food are safe, not shameful.

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For more from Zoë:

https://www.instagram.com/mybodypositivehome/

https://www.bodypositivehome.com/about

https://bodypositivehome.substack.com/

Podcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroy

Podcast Editing by Brian Walters

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