Is My Eating a Problem? Signs Every Teen Should Know
If you've ever wondered whether your relationship with food is actually healthy — or just felt confused about why stress makes you eat differently — this episode is for you. Leslie is joined by registered dietitian Jessica Setnick to talk about how eating problems actually start, the connection between stress and food, why body image can feel so distorted, and how to know when it's time to reach out for support.
What you'll learn in this episode:
Why eating problems usually start with stress plus a change in eating — not all at once
Two simple questions to ask when you're not sure if a "you should look/eat this way" message is actually true for you
Why stress changes the way you eat, and why that's more normal than it feels
Common yellow flags in how people think about food (without needing a diagnosis to pay attention to them)
Why your brain doesn't actually show you an accurate picture of your body
What's different about high school and college that makes this stage a common time for eating challenges to develop
How to know when it's time to talk to someone — and why earlier is always easier
Whether you can actually build (or rebuild) a healthy relationship with food
Chapters:
[00:02] Meet Jessica Setnick, registered dietitian
[01:19] Why diet culture messaging is louder than it used to be
[03:45] How eating problems actually start
[07:31] Two questions to ask about any "should" message about your body
[10:49] Why stress affects your eating
[15:24] Yellow flags in how you think about food
[19:01] Why your brain doesn't show you an accurate picture of your body
[27:34] What's different about high school and college
[31:43] How to know when it's time to get help
[36:48] Can you actually have a healthy relationship with food?About the guest:
Jessica Setnick is a registered dietitian who spent years working directly with teens navigating eating challenges. She now trains doctors, nurses, counselors, and dietitians on how to recognize and respond to eating problems in young people.
Resources mentioned:
Freshman Formula for teens and new college students
Parent Masterclass - for parents of high school students planning to attend college or college freshman already on campus
Free Clarity Call with Leslie