Health at Every Size
Health At Every Size® is a social justice movement and weight-inclusive approach to health. Contrary to popular misconception, it does not mean healthy at every size. It does not say that everyone, no matter their size, is “healthy.”
HAES stands for the right to pursue health in personally meaningful ways, no matter one’s size.
HAES Principle #1
Weight Inclusivity
Accept and respect the inherent diversity of body shapes and sizes and reject the idealizing or pathologizing of specific weights.
HAES Principle #2
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.
HAES Principle #3
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.
HAES Principle #4
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.
HAES Principle #5
Health-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.