Over the years, I've developed my practice around a Health at Every Size (HAES®) Approach, which I find is in excellent alignment with Naturopathic principles in their truest expression. In a society that is heavily steeped in diet culture, I strive to support individuals in the context of their lives, circumstances, and individual needs/ desires rather than a flawed standard.
What Does Health at Every Size Mean?
The Health At Every Size® Principles are:
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Weight Inclusivity: Accept and respect the inherent diversity of body shapes and sizes and reject the idealizing or pathologizing of specific weights.
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Health Enhancement: Support health policies that improve and equalize access to information and services, and personal practices that improve human well-being, including attention to individual physical, economic, social, spiritual, emotional, and other needs.
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Respectful Care: Acknowledge our biases, and work to end weight discrimination, weight stigma, and weight bias. Provide information and services from an understanding that socio-economic status, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, and other identities impact weight stigma, and support environments that address these inequities.
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Eating for Well-being: Promote flexible, individualized eating based on hunger, satiety, nutritional needs, and pleasure, rather than any externally regulated eating plan focused on weight control.
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Life-Enhancing Movement: Support physical activities that allow people of all sizes, abilities, and interests to engage in enjoyable movement, to the degree that they choose. (Association for Size Diversity and Health)
