Health At Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight

by Linda Bacon

What Can You Do? Refuse to fight in an unjust war. Join the new peace movement: “Health at Every Size” (HAES). HAES acknowledges that well-being and healthy habits are more important than any number on the scale. Participating is simple: 1. Accept your size. Love and appreciate the body you have. Self-acceptance empowers you to move on and make positive changes. 2. Trust yourself. We all have internal systems designed to keep us healthy—and at a healthy weight. Support your body in naturally finding its appropriate weight by honoring its signals of hunger, fullness, and appetite. 3. Adopt healthy lifestyle habits. Develop and nurture connections with others and look for purpose and meaning in your life. Fulfilling your social, emotional, and spiritual needs restores food to its rightful place as a source of nourishment and pleasure. • Find the joy in moving your body and becoming more physically vital in your everyday life. • Eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re full, and seek out pleasurable and satisfying foods. • Tailor your tastes so that you enjoy more nutritious foods, staying mindful that there is plenty of room for less nutritious choices in the context of an overall healthy diet and lifestyle. 4. Embrace size diversity. Humans come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Open to the beauty found across the spectrum and support others in recognizing their unique attractiveness.