Questions about Health & Weight

Does weight-loss make fat people healthier?
          Not necessarily.

Is permanent weight-loss even possible for the majority of people? 
          No.

Since neither of these questions can be answered in the affirmative, what are fat people to do?

The Weight Loss paradigm is that fat people should feed their bodies less food than they need to survive in the hope that they will eat themselves and become smaller, and also healthier.

The Health at Every Size (HAES) paradigm is that people at every size can make behavior choices based on their own prioritization of health; the path they choose; and their current situation.

Research indicates that,… although there are never any guarantees and health is never entirely within our control, … working toward healthy behaviors is the best way for us to support our bodies, rather than, choosing to use food and movement in an attempt to manipulate one’s size while hoping that good health comes along for the ride.


What is Behavior-Centered Health?
          It is a health practice in which healthy choices and behaviors are the Goal, rather than a particular size, weight, or shape.

What is Health at Every Size?

1. Accepting and respecting the diversity of body shapes and sizes.
   
   
2. Recognizing that health and well-being are multi-dimensional and that they include physical, social, spiritual, occupational, emotional, and intellectual aspects.
   
   
3. Promoting all aspects of health and well-being for people of all sizes.
   
   
4. Promoting eating in a manner which balances individual nutritional needs, hunger, satiety, appetite, and pleasure.
   
   
5. Promoting individually appropriate, enjoyable, life-enhancing physical activity, rather than exercise that is focused on a goal of weight loss.