A Revolutionary Approach to Health
Health At Every Size®: End the Obsession
A health-centered paradigm that focuses on total well-being, not weight
"HEALTH AT EVERY SIZE™ (also known as HEALTH AT ANY SIZE) is a health-centered paradigm that focuses on total health and well-being, not weight. It promotes active living, eating well without dieting, and a nurturing environment that includes respect and acceptance for people of all sizes."
— Healthy Weight Network
My Journey: From Diet Mentality to Body Liberation
Like many, I used to think that being fat was unhealthy.
I used to think it was my fault when I gained or lost weight. I believed that the BMI determined my level of self-esteem. I thought that my 'ideal weight' was something I should be in control over—and if I couldn't control it, something was wrong with me.
No longer!
Through my own recovery journey and years of studying the research, I've discovered that everything I was taught about weight and health was wrong. The diet industry, the medical establishment, and our culture have sold us a lie—one that profits from our insecurity and keeps us trapped in cycles of shame and self-blame.
What I've learned has set me free—and it can set you free too.
The truth is:
This isn't just theory—it's how I live my life now, and it's the foundation of how I work with clients. I no longer use food to cope. I feel good about myself, my body, and my life. And I'm passionate about helping others experience this same freedom through Health At Every Size® principles.
What the Research Actually Shows
The evidence doesn't support what we've been told about weight and health
Research Finding #1: The 'Obesity Paradox'
"Although people think there's all this evidence out there showing a high mortality risk associated with (being) overweight, in fact the literature doesn't show it."
— Katherine M. Flegal, PhD, Senior Research Scientist at the National Center for Health Statistics, CDC
Far from it.
Flegal's research, analyzing 30 years of actual deaths in the US, corrected an earlier CDC report that indicated severe risks related to being 'overweight.' She showed instead that being clinically 'overweight' is associated with a lower death rate than so-called 'normal' or 'healthy' weight (JAMA 2005;293:1861-1867).
This confirmed much earlier research that had been studiously ignored.
Source: Healthy Weight Network
Research Finding #2: Diets Don't Work
In addition, weight loss attempts don't work... for anyone!
Study after study shows that:
The more you diet, the more you become obsessed with food, your body, and your failures.
So even if you do believe that being fat is unhealthy, is dieting really working for you?
What DOES Work: Stopping the Diet Cycle
To support the people I work with, one of the first steps we take is to help them stop dieting.
The majority who do this experience an immediate freedom from food they have never before experienced as an adult!
They tell me:
You can too!
HAES® Principles at Work: A New Framework for Health
The Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH), along with many other organizations and individuals, are committed to spreading the word about Health At Every Size® and the HAES® Principles. These five principles provide a roadmap for pursuing health and well-being without weight focus.
"Accept and respect the inherent diversity of body shapes and sizes and reject the idealizing or pathologizing of specific weights."
Let's break this down:
Weight Inclusivity talks about realizing that we come in all shapes and sizes—and this is normal and healthy!
After all, if we all looked the same and thought the same and had the same strengths and weaknesses, we certainly would not be a thriving culture.
Accepting your body and the bodies around you will help you stop focusing on your body!
Imagine never again allowing your appearance to stop you from enjoying your life! You can stop the familiar and sad thought process of 'I'll do that fun thing when I lose weight.'
No... DO IT NOW!
Here's the truth: Your body will not allow you to maintain weight loss. If you've cycled up and down before, it will happen again and again. Your body doesn't like to lose weight and will battle you to prevent it!
It's much easier, believe it or not, to just accept yourself as you are than to fight this lifelong, losing battle with your body!
This can be challenging, of course, but with help it is possible—and so worth it.
Living the HAES® Principles: What This Means for You
The HAES® Principles are a healthy and helpful way to embrace and make the changes you wish to make. They help put your life and health back in your hands and support positive change in the culture around you.
Stop Dieting
Challenge Weight Bias (In Yourself and Others)
Listen to Your Body
Seek Weight-Neutral Healthcare
Find Community
HAES® also provides a community to reach out to! It's a lot easier to handle prejudice, discrimination, and the thin ideal when surrounded by like-minded people!
Start by getting help for your own body image shame and disordered eating behaviors.
You Don't Have to Do This Alone
Shifting from diet mentality to Health At Every Size® principles is a profound transformation—and it's not always easy in a culture that constantly pushes weight loss.
At Beyond Eating Recovery, all of our services are grounded in HAES® principles:
Individual Therapy
Work one-on-one with a HAES®-aligned therapist to:
Dietitian Services
Work with a weight-neutral dietitian to:
Battle of the Binge Program
Our self-study course teaches you to:
Group Therapy
Connect with others on similar journeys:
Learn More About Health At Every Size®
Organizations
Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH)
Official organization promoting HAES® principles, professional resources, and research
Healthy Weight Network
Resource for weight-neutral health information
CREDN
Columbia River Eating Disorders Network - Local eating disorder support and advocacy
Recommended Reading
Note: These are educational resources. For personalized support, please contact our practice.
Ready to End the Diet Cycle and Embrace Health At Every Size®?
You don't have to spend another day trapped in diet culture, hating your body, or believing that your worth is determined by your weight.
Health At Every Size® offers a different path:
Our entire practice is built on HAES® principles. We're here to support you in this paradigm shift—from diet mentality to body liberation.
Take the first step today.
Questions about Health At Every Size® or how we incorporate it into treatment?
We're happy to talk with you.
Contact us at 360-726-4141 or through our contact form.