What Does HAES Mean?

Have you ever heard someone mention “Health at Every Size” and found yourself wondering what it really means? In a world where weight and health are often treated as synonymous, “Health at Every Size” may sound counterintuitive. But HAES- which stands for Health at Every Size is part of a growing movement that challenges traditional assumptions about body size, dieting, and well-being. Whether you’re new to this concept or curious about the buzz, this post will break down what HAES stands for. 

Written by: Sasha Tran

Reviewed by: Heather Bray, RD

What is HAES?

Health at Every Size (HAES) is a movement that promotes the idea that individuals can pursue health and well being without focusing on weight loss as a central goal. HAES became popular by the Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH), the HAES framework emphasizes body diversity, and listening to internal cues. It does not mean that every body is healthy, but rather that everybody deserves access to respectful, evidence-based care. 

The Core Principles of HAES

HAES is grounded in core principles:

1. Weight Inclusivity: accepting and respecting the inherent diversity of body shapes and sizes, and scraping the concept of an “ideal body weight” (see why I don’t use BMI for more).

2. Health Enhancement: supporting health policies that not only improve but equalize the access to services and information that improve human well-being.

3. Eating for Well-Being: encouraging flexible, individualized eating based on hunger, satiety, nutritional needs, rather than any externally regulated eating plan focused on weight control.

4. Respectful Care: providing information and services from an understanding that socio-economic, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, and other identities impact weight stigma, and supporting environments that address these inequities.

5. Life-Enhancing Movement: helping people of all sizes and abilities to engage in enjoyable movement in whatever form and degree they choose.

By embracing these principles HAES supports a paradigm shift in healthcare and wellness that prioritizes, dignity, autonomy, and holistic well-being over weight-centric measures. 

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Common Myths About HAES

With a better idea about what HAES entails, let’s dive into some common myths about HAES.

Myth 1: HAES claims that everyone is healthy at any weight or size.

HAES does not promote that everyone is healthy no matter their size. HAES tries to reject the idea of BMI and weight as health indicators and rather encourages more dependable measures to determine whether someone is healthy.

Myth 2: HAES promotes “unhealthy” body sizes.

HAES recognizes that there is a variety of body shapes and sizes. HAES encourages participating in behaviours that promote overall health. Weight is not considered a behaviour and shouldn’t be the end all be all for what’s considered healthy. 

Myth 3: HAES is against weight loss.

Since HAES doesn’t consider weight as a measure of health, they don’t encourage intentional weight loss or criticize unintentional weight loss caused by healthy behaviour changes. HAES doesn’t focus on weight loss to achieve a healthy body, it emphasizes supporting healthy behaviour changes. 

By challenging these myths HAES opens the door to more inclusive and evidence-based approaches to health.

Final Thoughts

In a culture where thinness is often considered “healthy”, the HAES framework offers a new perspective. Rather than promoting a one-size-fits-all approach, HAES invites us to consider that health is more than just a number on a scale. HAES doesn’t ignore health, or claim that weight is irrelevant, it focuses on nourishing our bodies, engaging in joyful movement, and accessing respectful care. 

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If you’ve been harmed by weight-focused care, you’re not alone—and you have options. Healing is possible—without shrinking yourself to fit someone else’s version of health.

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