Is “Health at Every Size (HAES)” a Scientifically Valid Approach to Weight Loss?

Body positivity can stand for more than just social acceptance

In a time where society is advocating for improved education surrounding our lifestyle choices and personal health, the shortcomings of the weight loss industry cannot be understated. With an endless selection of “scientifically proven” crash diets and biohacks to choose from, you have to wonder how well we truly understand the causes of obesity and whether dieting per se has actually led to health improvements on a global scale. There are certainly enough people out there trying to lose weight. Yet, everyone seems to have a different idea about what’s most important — I’ve learned not to engage in lunchroom conversations about why we should avoid entire food groups.

Although I don’t believe that individuals are solely responsible for their downward spiral into a realm that promises rapid weight loss, we are all responsible for perpetuating the myth that thin is unequivocally healthy.That’s not to say that being overweight is healthy either, but there is certainly a lack of scientific consensus that body weight and general health indicators are highly correlated.

Over the past decade, the Health at Every Size (HAES) movement has emerged in response to the…