Episode Details

Did you know over 80% of LGBTQ+ youth experience disordered eating?

This issue is deep, complex, and urgent, and yet it's rarely discussed with the compassion and nuance it deserves.

In this powerful and timely conversation, Heather Hester is joined by Kristin Szostak, Regional AVP at The Renfrew Centers, one of the nation’s leading eating disorder treatment programs, to shine a light on how identity, trauma, and body image collide for LGBTQ+ youth.

They go beyond surface-level symptoms to unpack the real reasons queer teens and young adults are more vulnerable, and what parents, educators, and allies can do to help them feel seen, safe, and supported.

You’ll learn:

• The difference between disordered eating and clinical eating disorders and why both matter
• How body dysphoria, shame, and societal messaging contribute to eating struggles in queer and trans youth
• What signs to look for if you're worried about your child, student, or loved one
• How to talk about food, bodies, and identity without shame or triggering language
• Why affirmation, safety, and inclusion are essential parts of recovery

This is not just a mental health issue, it’s a social justice issue rooted in the fight for belonging, dignity, and healing.

Press play to gain the tools, clarity, and compassion you need to show up in meaningful, informed ways for LGBTQ+ youth who are quietly struggling with food, body image, and identity.

You might just save a life.

Links referenced in this episode:

• renfrewcenter.com

Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!

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This is a place to feel messy while you're figuring it out.

At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and grow their capacity for courageous connection.

For parents, allies, and those pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m her