More of Me to Love | Community Forum

Weight Management Claims in Dietetic Articles Shown to be Faulty

2010-07-28T08:30:20-05:00

This is the latest article (pre-publication PDF) from Lucy Aphramor, who has done a comprehensive review of the dietetic literature related to weight management. This is definitely worth the read if you’re interested in how weight loss methods fail long term.

http://www.nutritionj.com/content/9/1/30

Fat People’s Health Advocates Demand Inclusion in Policy Making

2010-05-11T14:49:05-05:00

This is a Press Release from ASDAH by Deb Lemire and it has been posted here in support of that organization as a service and press release:

“Nothing About Us Without Us,” says the Association for Size Diversity & Health in demanding that the voices of fat people and their advocates be heard in the national conversation about “obesity intervention and prevention” policies.
REDWOOD CITY, CA—The voices of fat people and the organizations advocating for their rights and health—at every size—must be included in the national conversation about “obesity” intervention or prevention policies, the Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH) demands.
Programs such as First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign, efforts to establish “National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month” in September, and legislation to establish BMI as a health “vital sign,” continue to move forward without any meaningful input from fat children or adults, who must every day confront being marginalized in educational, economic, civil, cultural, political, social, and medical arenas.
“It is imperative that we include fat people in the decisions that directly impact their quality of life and access to essential services,” ASDAH President Deb Lemire says.
It is time to replace the medical model of obesity with a human rights model, and ensure that discriminatory social and cultural norms not be institutionalized by law.”
“No policies should be decided without the full involvement of members of the groups directly affected by such policies,” Lemire adds.
“Have legislators considered asking fat children how they will feel returning to school in September during “Childhood Obesity Awareness” month?” Lemire asks. “Has the issue of bullying caused by stigmatizing children with larger bodies even been discussed?” “Recent studies - to be published in the June 2010 issue of Pediatrics - document that fat children are now 63% more likely to be subject to bullying because of their body size than are children perceived to be of ‘normal’ weight.
ASDAH supports Surgeon General Regina Benjamin in her charge to “change the national conversation from a negative one that focuses on disease to a positive conversation about being healthy and fit.”
Further, Lemire and the ASDAH leadership ask if policy makers really want to throw money into ineffective weight-focused programs when they could invest in the economically sound and evidence-based programs of Health At Every Size.
ASDAH is an international organization comprised of health professionals, scientists and activists committed to promoting all aspects of health and well being for all populations. Its guiding principles of Health At Every Size” recognize and promote the multi-dimensionality of health, including enjoyable and balanced eating and movement, without a weight-loss focus.

NYT Article on Fat Discrimination by Harriet Brown

2010-03-16T10:01:56-05:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/health/16essa.html

It’s a great article that brings up a lot of different points about fat discrimination and what fat people go through. Nice work.

Your thoughts?

Association for Size Diversity & Health urges focus on health not weight

2009-12-18T06:21:02-05:00

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/12/prweb3345474.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Deb Lemire
Peggy Elam
877-576-1102
media at sizediversityandhealth dot org

“Health At Every Size” Offered as Solution to Harmful “Obesity” Strategies
Eating Disorders Organizations Supported in Call to Shift Focus to Health

NASHVILLE, TN˜The Association for Size Diversity and Health joins
national and international eating disorders organizations in urging school
administrators, employers and health policy makers to focus on health
rather than weight in all populations.

“We offer as a resource in this shift the principles and science behind
Health At Every Size that are available at our website,
http://www.sizediversityandhealth.org,” ASDAH president Deb Lemire said.

The weight-neutral Health At Every Size (HAES) movement calls for size
acceptance, an end to weight discrimination, and lessening of the cultural
obsession with weight loss and thinness.

Last week the Academy for Eating Disorders, Binge Eating Disorder
Association, Eating Disorders Coalition, International Association for
Eating Disorders Professionals and National Eating Disorders Association
issued an unprecedented joint press release expressing concern that
strategies in the global “war on obesity” fuel weight prejudice and contribute
to negative self-esteem, body dissatisfaction and eating-disordered behavior.
Their concern aligns with ASDAH’s position that weight-focused health
messages and practices harm the health of people of all sizes by increasing
body shame, eating-disordered behavior, and health care avoidance, and
by failing to address the health needs of all people of all sizes.

ASDAH is an international organization composed of health professionals,
scientists and activists committed to promoting all aspects of health and
well-being for all populations. Its basic principles of Health at Every Size
recognize the multidimensionality of health and well-being and promote
balanced eating and enjoyable physical activity, rather than eating or
exercise focused on weight loss.

Striking a balance (cross-posted in “Diets Suck” because I didn’t scroll down far enough to see this forum)

2009-04-05T21:11:00-05:00

I made the choice to stop dieting over a year ago, and I am really happy about it. I have gained a fair amount of weight, but—other than growing out of some really cute clothes :(—I actually feel better about my appearance than I did at my thinnest.
However, my food and body issues have not been resolved entirely. I have spent the past year letting myself eat whatever I want whenever I want it. From what I have read about Intuitive Eating and HAES, I gather that I should eventually stop feeling like I need a piece of cake or pint of ice cream everyday—once I truly realize that I can always have whatever food I want, I should settle down and not eat the big box of Mike & Ikes in one sitting. But this hasn’t happened yet. I mean, I eat plenty of non-junk food, too, and I make an effort to get my fruits and veggies, my calcium, my fiber and protein, etc. But I crave “treats” daily.
I would like to not have this feeling of “needing” a dessert or sweet snack—I think having candy and soda too often is hard on my teeth, and I don’t think it’s a particularly good idea for me to keep gaining weight, as I suspect I am already above my setpoint.
But I can’t seem to find the middle ground between crazy-sugar-free-for-all and diet. It feels like a slippery slope to me.
I just wondered if anyone has any suggestions about how to deal with this? Thanks!