What is the “Health at any Size” (HAES) approach to eating disorder treatment?
In today's world, we're often bombarded with messages that equate health with a specific body size or weight. But what if there was a different way to approach wellness? Enter the Health at Every Size (HAES) framework.
HAES is a revolutionary approach that challenges traditional weight-centric health models. Instead of focusing on numbers on a scale, HAES prioritizes listening to your body and eating what feels right for you. This framework helps to support healthy habits without fixating on weight status.
We use HAES to shift the focus from weight loss to health gain. We recognize that dieting and intentional weight loss attempts can often do more harm than good, potentially increasing the risk of developing eating disorders.
Health at Every Size (HAES) principles in eating disorder treatment can be a powerful tool for recovery. Here's how HAES principles are typically applied:
Weight-Neutral Approach. In eating disorder treatment, the HAES principle of weight inclusivity is crucial. We avoid setting weight goals or using weight to measure progress. Instead, we focus on behavioral and psychological improvements.
Intuitive Eating. HAES promotes eating for wellbeing, which aligns with the intuitive eating approach often used in eating disorder treatment. Patients are encouraged to reconnect with their body's hunger and fullness cues, to eat a variety of foods without restriction, and find pleasure in eating.
Body Acceptance Work. HAES emphasizes body acceptance, which is a key component of eating disorder recovery. Therapists may use body image exercises, mirror work, and cognitive restructuring techniques to help patients develop a more positive relationship with their bodies.
Health-Focused Behaviors. Rather than focusing on weight loss or gain, treatment emphasizes health-promoting behaviors. This might include regular meals, adequate sleep, stress management, and social connection. These are also behaviors that help clients regulate their emotions more effectively and are a focus of DBT treatment.
Joyful Movement. In line with the HAES principle of life-enhancing movement, patients are encouraged to find forms of physical activity they enjoy, rather than exercising for weight control. This helps in developing a healthier relationship with exercise.
Challenging Diet Culture. HAES principles are used to help patients critically examine and challenge diet culture messages. This might involve media literacy training and cognitive work to reframe harmful beliefs about food and the body.
Addressing Weight Stigma. Treatment often includes education about weight stigma and its harmful effects. Patients are supported in developing resilience against weight-based discrimination.
Nutritional Rehabilitation. While HAES doesn't focus on weight, in eating disorder treatment it's used alongside necessary medical interventions. For instance, in cases of severe malnutrition, weight restoration might be necessary for medical stability, but it's approached in a HAES-aligned, weight-neutral manner.
Long-Term Recovery Focus. HAES principles support sustainable recovery by focusing on overall well-being rather than quick fixes or arbitrary weight goals.
It's important to note that while HAES principles are increasingly being incorporated into eating disorder treatment, the specific approach can vary depending on the treatment center, the individual therapist, and the unique needs of each client. At Turn the Mind, our goal is to use HAES principles to support recovery in a way that promotes long-term physical and mental health without perpetuating harmful diet culture messages
