57: Parenting in the age of Ozempic with Oona Hanson

Weight loss drugs are everywhere right now — in ads, in conversations, even being trialled on children as young as six. So what does that mean for how we talk to our kids about food, bodies, and weight? In this episode I'm joined by Oona Hanson, parent coach and educator based in Los Angeles, who helps families raise kids with a healthy relationship to food, exercise, and their bodies — including families navigating eating disorder recovery. We talk about: — What parents actually need to know about how accessible these medications are becoming for kids and teens — The difference between having a hard day with body image and something that needs professional support — and the signs Oona watches for as a coach — Why representation matters more than ever, as larger-bodied public figures disappear from our screens — and what this means for kids whose bodies are supposed to be growing, not shrinking — How to talk to teenagers about diet culture and weight loss drugs without lecturing — including practical scripts for opening these conversations in the car, doing the dishes, or on the couch — Why "they look healthy" is one of the most dangerous things we can say, and how this kept Emma's own eating disorder hidden for years — How to advocate for your child at the doctor when you're worried about weight stigma — and the questions to ask your GP ahead of time — Why Oona believes "we can't just talk about it, we need to be about it" when it comes to modelling body image for our kids — And why there's real reason for hope, even in a culture saturated with weight loss messaging This episode follows on from Emma's earlier conversation with Louise Adams on the marketing of weight loss drugs — if you haven't listened to that one yet, it's worth going back to. Find Oona Hanson: https://www.oonahanson.com/ Substack (Parenting Without Diet Culture): https://oonahanson.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oona\_hanson/  Mentioned in this episode: Dr. Lauren Hartman's book, Freeing Children and Young Adults from Shame, Scales, and Stigma:  https://www.amazon.com/Freeing-Children-Adults-Scales-Stigma/dp/1041141009 Eating Disorder Association of New Zealand (EDANZ): https://www.ed.org.nz/ Louise Adams episode on weight loss drug marketing: https://open.spotify.com/episode/46YpLnCFUttZgbOIfq3F8s?si=j5OaiN1lRS-QcdzdMxrerQ Loved this episode? The biggest thing you can do to help more people find this conversation is share it with someone who needs it. For more on exiting diet culture — subscribe to Emma's Sunday newsletter, Wait, What? https://emmawright.co.nz/waitwhat/