Hey friend! You’ve probably heard of Health at Every Size® by now, but maybe you’re wondering what it’s all about. Well, I’m here to give you the lowdown in a way that’s easy to read.
Health at Every Size (HAES) is a set of principles designed to fight against stigma, especially for people who don’t fit into the traditional mold of diet culture. It’s about recognizing that health is possible in all kinds of bodies, but also about acknowledging the reality that fat people, in particular, face a lot of bias especially when they go to healthcare providers.
Plus, it’s important to note that BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) individuals face even tougher barriers because of racism, ableism, healthism, and fat bias, which can make their access to quality care even harder. And let’s be real, most health research leaves out people in larger bodies and BIPOC folks, which only adds to the problem. The HAES approach is pushing to change that, making sure healthcare is inclusive for all.
HAES isn’t just a recent trend. HAES has roots in social justice, political movements, feminism, and public health. It all started in the 1960s when people began to notice and speak out against the growing anti-fat bias and the rise of diet culture/chronic dieting.
As people pushed back on the societal obsession with dieting and body size, there were more books and research about the health of fat bodies and the political pressures on fat people. By the 1990s, the term Health at Every Size® was coined, and the movement began to take shape.
Now, the Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH) leads the charge, with the mission of making healthcare accessible to everyone, regardless of size, and fighting against the harmful impact of fat bias and weight stigma.
HAES challenges the weight-based approach to health, recognizing that health isn’t determined by weight alone. It’s much more complex than what you eat or how much you weigh.
HAES is built on four basic principles:
Okay, I know what you’re thinking: “So, HAES sounds super awesome. Why wouldn’t everyone support it?” Well, my friend, there are a few reasons why HAES isn’t as universally loved as it should be. Let me explain.
Living in a world that’s obsessed with dieting and weight loss makes it hard to accept anything that challenges the societal norm. Healthcare professionals are still trained to think of weight as a key health indicator.
We’ve been told for years that weight loss equals better health and HAES is here to say that’s not the full story. Health is about way more than your weight. It’s about access to resources, mental health, social support, and a lot of other factors that impact your overall well-being. Weight isn’t the deciding factor.
We’re constantly told to try to lose weight in the name of health. And therefore, we’ve been taught to associate thinness with health. It’s drilled into us from every angle: media, advertisements, even healthcare providers. HAES flips that script, recognizing that there are many factors that influence health. Factors that have nothing to do with how much someone weighs. It’s about promoting health, not trying to shrink someone’s body.
Unfortunately, the healthcare industry doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to treating fat people with respect. Many studies link higher body weight with health issues, but they often don’t consider external factors like trauma, access to food, or living conditions, which can have a huge impact on someone’s health. HAES asks us to look beyond weight and address these other influences that matter.
For many, the concept of weight-neutral health is difficult to embrace because it requires a fundamental shift in how we think about bodies and health. We’ve been conditioned to believe that losing weight is synonymous with improving health. It’s not easy to shift away from years of conditioning, but it’s important to recognize that health can look different for different people, and it’s not solely defined by the number on a scale.
It’s all about challenging a system that has long been obsessed with weight. But here’s the thing, HAES isn’t trying to promote unhealthy behaviors, it’s simply saying we need to think of health in a broader way. It’s about recognizing that health can look different for everyone, no matter their body size.
The goal is to create a world where everyone, regardless of their size or shape, can access the care and support they need to live healthy, fulfilling lives. Remember, health is personal. Let’s start focusing on what makes us feel good, happy, and whole. I think that is something we can all get behind.
If you’re navigating disordered eating, an eating disorder, chronic health conditions, body image concerns, or weight cycling, working with a Health at Every Size® (HAES) therapist and dietitian can be a powerful step toward healing. Together, we support your mental and physical well-being through a weight-inclusive, compassionate lens. Our work focuses on building sustainable habits, using medical nutrition therapy where appropriate, and helping you heal your relationship with food and body.
You deserve care that meets you where you are. Click here to schedule your free discovery call today!
My heart has always been drawn to providing therapy for eating disorders and supporting individuals struggling with these challenges. I love working with clients 12 years old and up who are dealing with disordered eating and eating disorders, as well as their support persons and/or families. As an eating disorder therapist, I believe in meeting you exactly where you are on your journey. No judgment, no one-size-fits-all approach, no cookie-cutter therapy. Just genuine, human connection. I’m all about creating a safe, welcoming space where you can show up as your authentic self, whatever that looks like today. I also recognize that therapy for eating disorders is inherently vulnerable, and I do not take being a part of your healing team lightly.
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