Health at every size/weight neutral care
When I found health at every size (HAES), I felt like I unlocked a front door I didn’t even know existed. It is possible to be healthy without a focus on weight. As a health at every size provider, I acknowledge that our society has made it challenging to feel good about our bodies, and even more so for people in larger bodies. The difference is that rather than promoting or applauding weight loss or weight control, HAES helps me stay focused on helping clients support health behaviors (eating, movement/exercise, sleep, etc), rather than getting caught up in the cyclical and defeating nature of dieting.
Photo by AllGo - An App For Plus Size People on Unsplash
What is health at every size (haes)?
HAES is a researched philosophy with a focus on:
Weight inclusivity and celebration of size diversity
Respectful care that acknowledges inequities due to socio-economic status, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, and other identities that impact weight stigma
Promoting flexible and individualized eating and exercise behaviors without a focus on weight control
haes every size support provided:
Mental health counseling for body image issues
Support for individuals struggling with size discrimination
Health care oriented at treating the whole person, rather than weight centric care
Eating disorder recovery care
Photo by Camylla Battani on Unsplash
Ok this sounds great, but what if I really do want to lose weight?
HAES understands that living in the society we live in means that we aren’t always going to feel awesome about our current bodies or weights. So, the short answer is, it’s ok! You can still practice HAES. And I would really encourage you to read my blog post on this exact topic.
Learn more about HAES with my Online Course:
Short video presentation
Overview of research
Handouts including more research for the science nerds