When people initially hear about Health at Every Size (HAES), they often have questions. We’re constantly inundated with messages about the harms of living in a larger body and messages that thin is a prerequisite for health, so it’s understandable if it takes some time to get comfortable with the HAES approach.
To help clear up some of the confusion, we’re addressing 3 common misconceptions about HAES.
Misconception #1: HAES® ignores health.
The HAES® approach is actually meant to help patients improve their health outcomes without using weight as a proxy for health. Our approach for each patient is unique, but we often address disordered eating behaviors, gentle nutrition, and joyful movement, which are associated with improved health outcomes independent of weight.
Misconception #2: HAES® is only for individuals with certain body sizes.
HAES® is for everybody, as the name suggests. People of all sizes deserve to pursue health without trying to change their body size or shape.
Misconception #3: Some people need to lose weight to improve their health.
We acknowledge that negative health outcomes may be associated with various body sizes, though many of these studies often do not account for other factors, like genetics, which are beyond an individual’s control. Research also suggests that dieting to change one’s body size is not only ineffective in the long-term, but can actually cause harm. With the HAES® approach, we focus on health behaviors, and a person’s weight may fluctuate in either direction or remain the same. But again, changing body size is not the goal.
We hope this information was helpful. You can learn more on the Association for Size Diversity & Health’s website: https://asdah.org/health-at-every-size-haes-approach/
