Weight stigma is a common issue in healthcare. Health professionals often make assumptions about the health and lifestyle choices of people living in larger bodies, and in extreme cases, they may even discriminate and deny basic health screening due to these assumptions.
People in smaller bodies can also face assumptions from health professionals. They may be dismissed as being healthy or receive praise for disordered eating and weight loss.
These assumptions for people in larger and smaller bodies are extremely harmful and can even deter individuals from seeking medical support. For this reason, the Health At Every Size (HAES) framework was established.
What is HAES?
HAES proposes an alternative approach to healthcare, where we shift from weight bias to weight inclusivity. HAES recognises that factors such as weight, size, ethnicity, sexuality, and disability status should not dictate the quality of healthcare or condone weight stigma towards people in larger bodies.
Simply put, HAES believes that anyone, regardless of their size and appearance, deserves to receive health-promoting care, where health status isn’t based on being a certain size, weight or shape. Instead, HAES encourages health professionals to take into account other biomarkers of health (e.g., blood pressure and cholesterol levels).
Key principles of HAES that practitioners should keep in mind?
- Weight inclusivity
Be accepting and respectful of diverse body sizes and weight. Idealizing specific body types and pathologizing larger bodies can be extremely stigmatizing and harmful, and can deter people from seeking further support.Conversely, being weight inclusive ensures a patient’s concerns are heard and addressed in a way that suits their life and circumstances.
- Health enhancement
Prioritize enhancing health by improving access to information and services, and paying close attention to other factors including economic, social, spiritual and emotional needs of each patient. This is important, as health is multifaceted and often requires a holistic approach.
- Eating for physical and mental wellbeing
Acknowledge and unlearn weight biases, and promote regular and adequate eating to maintain energy and health. Additionally, normalizing eating for pleasure and enjoyment, regardless of weight and size.
- Meaningful movement
Support physical activity that people of all sizes can enjoy, engage in consistently, and to the degree they prefer. Movement comes in many forms, whether it’s through dance, yoga, walking, swimming, gardening or going to the gym. Each person will have different preferences for the type of movement, duration and intensity – it’s important to remember that all and any type of enjoyable movement is good for our mental and physical health!
Summary
Health At Every Size is a framework that promotes weight-inclusive healthcare and looks at health from a biomarker perspective, as opposed to weight-based assumptions.
The practitioners here at Proactive Health and Movement aspire to support clients with this framework in mind. Whether you’re seeking mental health support, podiatry or physiotherapy, our practitioners will support you by hearing your concerns, and tailoring treatment for your specific needs, values and goals.
Written By:
Harbir Kaur
Provisional Psychologist
References:
https://edfa.org.au/education/what-is-haes/
https://asdah.org/haes/
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