A general assumption is that discrimination is wrong. Humans, from early on, are taught that “we’re
special, unique, and one-of-a-kind.” In
today’s society we spend a lot of time scrutinizing diets, appearance, and
keeping up with the Joneses. Obesity
comes off as a shaming condition and that person is to be perceived to be a
failure. We have long work days and
little time off to take care of ourselves and our media pushes thinness as
desirable. Our environment contributes to obesity. As practitioners and experts, we need to take
a greater approach to remove our own bias and truly treat.
The
Association for Size Diversity and Health has a program called The Health At
Every Size Approach.
Their principles are:
- Weight
Inclusivity: Accept and respect the inherent diversity of body shapes
and sizes and reject the idealizing or pathologizing of specific weights.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
The National
Association to Advance Fat Acceptance is a hot topic organization. NAAFA works to eliminate discrimination based
on body size and provide support through education, advocacy, and support. As a nutrition blog, our goal is to promote
health and wellness, regardless of a client’s size or shape. By moving from acceptance, we can help those
move into healthier changes to be proud of.
