Health At Every Size (HAES®)

Despite what you’ve been taught, your health status is not solely defined by your weight. We cannot look at a body and presume to know what is happening in that person’s body and what their health is like. And yet, society puts those assumptions onto all of us—fat is “unhealthy” and skinny and smaller bodies are “healthy.”

Contrary to what society tells us, bodies aren’t “supposed” to look a certain way. In fact, with beauty standards changing constantly, how can we expect to ever feel good enough in that environment? Not too long ago, having “curves in all the right places” was the beauty standard, and now we are back to “heroin chic” in the world of the GLP-1 weight loss craze. All of these beauty ideals are a social construct. Invented by who? People who stand to profit significantly from your fear of not meeting these standards and expectations.

Our bodies are supposed to change over time. This isn’t a sign of failure or wrongdoing on your part—it’s normal. It’s part of the human experience. And when you start to understand that, you can begin looking at your body and the world differently.

The root of this work is rewriting (and sometimes straight-up throwing out) the rules and narratives about bodies you’ve been holding onto that don’t actually support your health and well-being. They certainly don’t help your relationship with yourself or your body.

Health At Every Size® (HAES®) is a framework that challenges the idea that body size is the primary indicator of health and well-being. Instead of solely focusing on your weight, using a HAES® approach centers sustainable health behaviors, access to care, and respect for body diversity.

When a HAES® framework is incorporated into therapy, it helps create powerful shifts—allowing you to recognize that weight is influenced by a complex mix of genetics, environment, trauma, and social factors, and isn’t something that can be reliably or sustainably controlled.

Beyond the clinical language, here’s what this means for you:

• Reconnecting and attuning to your body and its signals
• Challenging the idea that your size is the most important aspect of your health and self-worth
• Caring for your physical and mental health in sustainable ways
• Making informed decisions about your body—without pressure, shame, or coercion

Your body is not a moral reflection of who you are, and your health is much more than an arbitrary number on a scale.

What if I still want to lose weight?

The HAES® principles are all about body autonomy. And wanting to lose weight is something we hold space for. We explore it—where it’s coming from, what it’s meant to give you, and whether it’s actually aligned with what you want long-term. The HAES® framework is built on the idea that people deserve respect, dignity, and the ability to make informed decisions about their own bodies without coercion or weight-based judgment.  Oftentimes, the desire to lose weight comes from a space of weight-based judgment, and in order to determine if weight loss is what you truly want, we have a lot of bias to dismantle first so you can make the best decision for you and your body!

What experience do you have using the HAES® framework in your work—and how do I know you actually know how to apply it in therapy?
The HAES® framework and principles aren’t just something I agree with—it’s how I practice therapy, and it’s a framework I also live by. I’ve worked extensively with clients navigating eating disorders, body image, and the impact of weight stigma, and I intentionally integrate the HAES® framework into all of that work. I’m also continuing my training as a Body Trust provider with the Center for Body Trust, which closely aligns with this approach. So it isn’t just theoretical, but something I teach throughout our work together so it can be applied in your life as you see fit!

Is this anti-health?
The HAES® approach is not anti-health. It is an anti-weight-based definition of health. The HAES® framework expands on what health means—behaviors, mental well-being, access to care, and quality of life—not just weight. Health is not a specific size. It also recognizes that weight is influenced by many factors outside of individual control, so using it as the main measure of health can actually miss the bigger picture and reinforce stigma, which we know can negatively impact health outcomes. In other words, the HAES® approach is health-centered, not weight-centered.

If all foods are allowed, won’t I just eat everything all the time?
This is one of the biggest fears, and it makes sense! When you have been restricting certain foods or not eating enough, food can feel more urgent, more exciting, and harder to stop thinking about. When you start allowing all foods, there can be an adjustment period. But over time, with consistency and support, foods once deemed off limits or “bad” foods even, lose their intensity.
Because you know you can have it whenever you want it, the food becomes less activating and more neutral when you think about it. You no longer feel the urgency and intensity of thoughts like “I can never have it again, so I’d better enjoy it now.” Food becomes…just food—something you can enjoy, nourish yourself with, and not feel constantly consumed by. And all the foods fit into our diet, not just the foods we are told we “should” eat.

I have so much anxiety about going to the doctor. Can therapy actually help with that?
Yes, and this is an important part of the work we do together. If you’ve had difficult or harmful experiences in healthcare settings, it makes sense that going to the doctor feels distressing or triggering. I care deeply about supporting my clients through this. Together, we’ll work on building the confidence and language to advocate for yourself in medical settings—so your concerns are heard and taken seriously. You deserve care that sees you as a whole person—not just your body.

What if I don’t trust my body at all?
You’re not alone! Most people I work with feel this way at first. Trusting your body isn’t something you force, it’s something you rebuild over time. We start with the basics: consistent nourishment (regular meals and snacks), establishing a new relationship with movement based on joy and not punishment, learning to tune into and respond to your hunger and fullness cues, and understanding what your body is communicating. This is a process of working with your body again instead of fighting against it.

Is the HAES® framework only for people in larger bodies?
No, the HAES® approach is for people of all body sizes. But it’s especially important for individuals in larger bodies who have experienced weight stigma, dismissal, or harm in healthcare and other spaces.

Many people in larger bodies are told their health is the problem without actually having their concerns taken seriously or explored more deeply. The HAES® principles push back on that. It focuses on supporting your health and well-being without reducing everything down to your weight.

This work helps you navigate those experiences—whether that’s advocating for yourself in medical settings, questioning what you’ve been taught about your body, or learning how to care for yourself in a way that actually feels supportive.