HAES in the News

"Chasing Perfection," an article in the Australian Courier News yesterday pointed out the connection between dieting, body dissatisfaction and eating disorders. It was a very body-positive article:

""There is a lot of evidence that the more people practise restrictive eating – which is what dieting is – the more likely they are to gain weight," says Lily O'Hara, a public health expert and lecturer at the University of the Sunshine Coast."

You don't often articles willing to criticize the "obesity" hysteria, it's almost become unpatriotic to do so (regardless of the country). I'm glad to see the Courier News willing to do so.



In Holland, Michigan, a hospital is offering a 12 week course in HAES, including body acceptance, pleasure in movement and intuitive eating. The description worries me a little since it puts it in the context of weight-loss, but it does say

"The program embraces the concept that individuals can be healthy at any size and learn to accept their bodies"

I'm really tempted to go to the informational meeting just to see. I would never be able to make the actual sessions (too far away), but I would like to know what approach they're using.


For those of you unfamiliar with the HAES concept, it promotes the idea that people can be "Healthy at Every Size" (HAAS is an alternative version, or "Health at Any Size"). Balanced eating, fitness and positive body image are the goals, rather than weight loss. More information can be found at: http://www.bodypositive.com/