Harmful for the same reason as the 'healthy at any size' campaign, and anti progressive because if they claim health at every size, then they deny there's a huge malnutrition problem in America. It would be solving the problem of food deserts and obesity by just saying 'no no these people are actually healthy' instead of making sure they don't live in a fucking food desert.

  • FanondorfAmiibo [they/them,none/use name]
    ·
    4 years ago

    There was a very deliberate effort to push the idea that HAES meant being overweight was healthy by reactionaries, to the point where the misinterpretation and the overblown reaction to that actually happened overshadowed the actual ideals of the modern movement. Anyone on reddit a few years back might recall /r/fatpeoplehate and /r/fatpeoplestories. From https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/size-diversity-health-every-size:

    "The basic premise of health at every size, as written in [Lindo] Bacon’s Book, Health at Every Size: The surprising truth about your weight, is that 'Health at Every Size'(HAES) acknowledges that well-being and healthy habits are more important than any number on the scale.

    1. Accept your size. Love and appreciate the body you have. Self-acceptance empowers you to move on and make positive changes.
    2. Trust yourself. We all have internal systems designed to keep us healthy — and at a healthy weight. Support your body in naturally finding its appropriate weight by honoring its signals of hunger, fullness, and appetite.
    3. Adopt healthy lifestyle habits. Develop and nurture connections with others and look for purpose and meaning in your life. Fulfilling your social, emotional, and spiritual needs restores food to its rightful place as a source of nourishment and pleasure.
    4. Find the joy in moving your body and becoming more physically vital in your everyday life.
    5. Eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re full, and seek out pleasur­able and satisfying foods.
    6. Tailor your tastes so that you enjoy more nutritious foods, staying mindful that there is plenty of room for less nutritious choices in the context of an overall healthy diet and lifestyle.
    7. Embrace size diversity. Humans come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Open to the beauty found across the spectrum and support others in recognizing their unique attractiveness."

    The way informationated is disseminated these days is troubling. It's not like there was ever some golden age of truth, but social media and the internet in general has really amplified the way misinformation spreads.