The Full Plate Podcast with Abbie Attwood, MS

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, provider, or educatorThis is a conversation about growth — literal and emotional. About letting kids develop in bodies that are allowed to change. And about building systems of care that prioritize safety over stigma.Dr. Hartman's book: https://www.aspengroveayam.com/copy-of-presentations-publicationsDr. Hartman is double board certified in Adolescent Medicine and Pediatrics. She is known for her patient-centered approach, and has dedicated her career to supporting teens, young adults, and their loved ones as they navigate adolescence.  She aims to focus on the strengths in every patient and nurture a sense of hope to help support them to live their most fulfilling and healthy lives.  She has held numerous leadership positions, including the chair of adolescent medicine at Kaiser Permanente for Northern California, the director of the pediatric eating disorder program in the East Bay, and served as the West Coast Medical Director at Equip.  She also helped create programs and held leadership positions in multidisciplinary programs for gender expansive youth and pediatric autonomic disorders.With more than a decade of dedicated practice, she has honed her skills in the specialized field of adolescent medicine, particularly in the realm of eating disorders in the hospital, outpatient and virtual settings. Support the show: Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Substack for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribeApply for Abbie’s Group Membership:Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group Social media:Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcastFind Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellnessPodcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroyPodcast Editing by Brian WaltersThis podcast is ad-free and support comes from your support on Substack. Subscribe HERE. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.comHow do our attachment styles shape our relationship with food, body image, and disordered eating? In this episode, I’m joined by therapists Vanessa and Kate to explore the powerful connection between attachment theory and eating behaviors—why food can feel like safety, control, or comfort, and how early relationships influence the way we cope today.If you’ve ever wondered why your patterns with food feel so hard to change, this conversation will help you understand them with more clarity and compassion.In this episode, we cover:*What attachment theory is and the four main patterns: secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized*How attachment patterns are linked to disordered eating and body image struggles*Looking as food behaviors through the lens of seeking safety and regulation*The difference between comfort-seeking and numbing (and why both can show up in any eating pattern)*How relationships and family dynamics can trigger changes in eating behaviors*The impact of diet culture, GLP-1 medications, and social media on body image and food choices*Why “rupture and repair” is essential for healing your relationship with food and your body*Practical ways to build a more secure, compassionate relationship with eatingSupport the show: Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Substack for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribeApply for Abbie’s Group Membership:Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-groupSocial media:Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcastFind Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellness Find Kate & Vanessa on Instagram: instagram.com/calmcounselingatx/Vanessa Scaringi is a licensed psychologist based in Austin, Texas, working with adolescents, young adults, and adults. Through individual, group, and family therapy, she helps clients build self-awareness and recognize patterns that may be getting in the way of the life they want. Her work centers on creating a safe, collaborative space to explore difficult experiences, while integrating insight-oriented and evidence-based approaches to support meaningful, lasting change.Kathryn Garland is a licensed clinical social worker, supervisor, and certified eating disorder specialist. Her approach is collaborative and grounded in curiosity and trust, integrating psychoanalytic, relational, and mindfulness-based frameworks. She works with adolescents, adults, and couples navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, identity, disordered eating, body image concerns, and chronic illness. Her experience spans foster care, community mental health, college counseling, and eating disorder treatment, including leading an adolescent intensive outpatient program.Her work focuses on helping clients move through barriers, navigate transitions, and create meaningful, lasting change.Podcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroyPodcast Editing by Brian WaltersThis podcast is ad-free and support comes from your support on Substack. Subscribe HERE.

Perfectionism shows up in how we see our bodies, measure our health, and define our worth. This week, I’m bringing back a listener favorite—my conversation with Dr. Lisa Folden, who is a physical therapist, anti-diet coach, and weight-inclusive movement practitioner.At its core, this episode is about how breaking free from perfectionism allows us to reclaim joy in our bodies, relationships, work, and yes—our lives.We get into so much, including:* Growing up as a “role model” and shedding that identity* What research really says about weight, joint pain, diabetes, and intentional weight-loss* Navigating disordered eating as a Black woman and why underdiagnosis is common* Rebuilding a joyful, intuitive relationship with movement* Letting go of the perfectionism trap and showing up authentically* How health providers can approach shifting from weight-centric to weight-inclusive careIf you’ve ever felt your worth is tied to your body or achievements, this conversation is full of science, compassion, and practical tools to help you move with freedom and joy.Find Lisa on IG: https://www.instagram.com/healthyphit/Find the show on IG: @fullplate.podcastFind Abbie on IG: @abbieattwoodwellnessSupport the show: Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Substack for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribeApply for Abbie’s Group Membership:Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-groupPodcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroyPodcast Editing by Brian WaltersThis podcast is ad-free and support comes from your support on Substack. Subscribe HERE. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe

A raw conversation about why healing often feels harder before it gets better. They compare dieting and addiction roots like shame and belonging. Personal stories show physical versus emotional discomfort in recovery. They explore short-term relief versus long-term cost and the power of community. The discussion highlights small wins, privilege, and barriers that shape the messy middle of healing.

Savala Nolan, essayist and professor who directs UC Berkeley Law’s Henderson Center for Social Justice, reflects on her book Good Woman: A Reckoning. She discusses refusing the bargain of being “good.” Short takes cover midlife ruptures, dieting and divorce, body liberation amid GLP-1s, becoming illegible to misogynistic culture, and raising daughters fluent in their bodies.

A clear-eyed look at the fiber frenzy and what the research actually says about benefits and limits. A critique of turning neutral nutrition into extremes and using food to suppress appetite. A conversation about how modern weight-loss drugs and messaging complicate fullness, hunger, and recovery from disordered eating.

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.Support the show: Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Substack for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe Apply for Abbie’s Group Membership:Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-groupFind the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcastFind Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellnessFor more from Zoë:https://www.instagram.com/mybodypositivehome/https://www.bodypositivehome.com/abouthttps://bodypositivehome.substack.com/Podcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroyPodcast Editing by Brian WaltersThis podcast is ad-free and support comes from your support on Substack. Subscribe HERE. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.comZoë Rom is a journalist, elite runner, and advocate for nuanced storytelling in sports media. Kylee Van Horn is a dietitian working directly with athletes. They join me to share their insights on how diet culture and running culture intersect. We explore nutrition myths, challenge unrealistic body ideals, and talk about what it means for athletes to foster a healthier, science-backed relationship with movement and food.Tune in for more on:* How diet culture shows up in running and endurance sports* The role of media in reinforcing harmful body standards for athletes* Why nutrition myths—especially around carbohydrates—are so persistent* The particular brand of disordered eating in runners* How the attention economy rewards extremes over nuance* The pressure athletes face with appearance and body composition* Why humor is such a powerful part of recovery and healing* What it means to ask deeper questions about our beliefs around food, health, and performance* The importance of representing diverse bodies in athleticsI hope you enjoy this one! It’s full of stories, science, and a little humor along the way—including why, yes, pizza really is the hero we all deserve.Support the show: Enjoying this podcast? Please support the show on Substack for bonus episodes, community engagement, and access to "Ask Abbie" at abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe Apply for Abbie’s Group Membership:Already been at this anti-diet culture thing for a while, but want community and continued learning? Apply for Abbie's monthly membership: https://www.abbieattwoodwellness.com/circle-monthly-group Social media:Find the show on Instagram: @fullplate.podcastFind Abbie on Instagram: @abbieattwoodwellnessFind Zoë and Kylee: https://www.yourdietsuckspodcast.com/ Podcast Cover Photography by Anya McInroyPodcast Editing by Brian WaltersThis podcast is ad-free and support comes from your support on Substack. Subscribe HERE.

Ashley Wilfore, clinician and mom focused on family trauma and body-image norms, and Sarah Louer, LCSW, mother and recovering disordered dieter, share candid stories. They discuss how dieting and body shame are passed through families. They talk about early memories that shape beliefs, the turning points away from restriction, and deliberate choices to stop the cycle with their children.

Meg Bowman, a nutritionist who blends trauma, mental health, and digestive care, shares how chronic stress and lived experience shape our relationship with food. She talks about why nervous system regulation matters for digestion. Topics include psychological restriction vs physical limits, how shame fuels survival responses, and practical signals of safety like regular, balanced meals.