Health at Every Size (HAES) is an evidence-based framework for health. It has two ‘arms’ based on five principles.
I like to think of the first arm as the things that need to happen on the systemic and/or societal level. This arm contains the first three principles- Weight Inclusivity, Health Enhancement, and Respectful Care. It addresses broad forces that support health, such as safe and affordable access to healthcare, policies that work toward economic equity, and grounds itself in a social justice framework in order to address disparities.
The second arm of HAES deals with things that can happen on the individual level. These are the last two principles, Eating for Well-being (Intuitive Eating) and Life-Enhancing Movement.
- Eating for well-being is defined within the HAES framework as “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 is defined as “physical activities that allow people of all sizes, abilities, and interests to engage in enjoyable movement, to the degree that they choose.”
