Healthy at Every Size, What's Does That Mean?

Healthy at Every Size, What’s Does That Mean?

There is a real war on fat. From the health initiatives spearheaded by Michelle Obama to fight obesity in our youth to airlines charging extra for overweight passengers, there is a definite shift in the way we all look at the obesity issue in this country. There has never been a cookie cutter way for me to maintain a healthy lifestyle as a plus size woman. I am always baffled when I go to the doctor and they reference a BMI index originally created in the 1800′s or a health/weight that has never applied to me. Why can’t doctors approach each patient individually and create a plan for a healthy lifestyle that is not a universal one?

Luckily, there is a shift in the way some doctors approach treatment of their patients. The Healthy at Every Size” movement (HAES) is a more individualized plan for a healthy lifestyle that would include physical activity, identifying emotional triggers that lead to food choices and being more in tune with your body. This would eventually lead to being comfortable at a weight that is best for you, not one that is dictated by the standard BMI index.

The pledge of HAES is:

• Accepting and respecting the natural diversity of body sizes and shapes.

• Eating in a flexible manner that values pleasure and honors internal cues of hunger, satiety and appetite.

• Finding the joy in moving one’s body and becoming more physically vital.

One of the more notables in the HAES movement is Linda Bacon, PhD. In her book “Healthy at Every Size, the surprising truth about your weight” , Linda attempts to dispel several myths regarding health and weight.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is difficult to do for most people. The things that cause you to stray off track will be the same things that will be there when you get to your weight loss goal. Identifying what is best for you is the most effective way to reach your health goals.

Comments

helezleen says:

February 24, 2011 at 9:21 am

This is sweet!!! major brands give out samples of their popular health products best place is “123 Get Samples” tell your friends too.
Olga says:

February 26, 2011 at 9:41 pm

Sorry on the late post..but I flipping LOVE this.
Thank you..finally. I have always been big and recently due to the birth of my daughter I got type 2 Diabetes.
But this does not mean that I don’t eat right or consume 2-3 plates of spanish rice/beans.

I have been in love with YOGA for 7 years and its something I now share with my daughter age 6.

Plus size people can be very active as well.

Thrive in your CURVES..
Spread the WORD!

Curvaciously Yours,

Olga~
Lifestyle Editor
Daily Venus Diva Magazine
The Curvy Goddess says:

April 4, 2011 at 8:59 am

Interesting article. Not sure if I agree with Dr. Bacon about the myth that fat kills. Maybe there isn’t direct proof but we as individuals don’t want to wait for a study to show that fat does kill before we take charge of our health.
Features Editor, Cassandra Jones-McBryde says:

April 4, 2011 at 2:49 pm

Dr. Bacon does make some intresting points. It makes you wonder about the conversations that you may have had with health care professionals that may have discounted your symptoms and reduced it to being weight related. We do have to take charge of our health and learn what makes us healthy, it may not be the same cookie cutter solution for everyone.
Features Editor, Cassandra Jones-McBryde says:

April 4, 2011 at 2:50 pm

Thanks Olga! Yoga is always a good thing…