Finding HAES Doctors in NYC: A Guide to Health At Every Size
Health at Every Size is a weight-neutral model of care that prioritizes health promoting behaviors to strive for specific health outcomes rather than weight change. Finding providers that are HAES-aligned can help bring you towards a life focused on nourishing your body, finding joyful movement, and prioritizing both physical and mental health parameters. In a diverse city such as NYC, resources are abundant and finding HAES doctors NYC to align with your goals can help enhance overall well-being.
What is HAES (Health at Every Size)?
Health at Every Size (HAES) is a health movement that focuses on healthcare defined by overall well-being and away from weight. This approach works to undo long term weight bias and stigma that exists so strongly in the healthcare industry. Instead of focusing on weight loss/weight centered goals to address health conditions, HAES providers focus on health promoting behaviors and lifestyle change to seek improvement in health parameters.
There are five core principles that this framework is based on. These include weight inclusivity, health enhancement, respectful care, eating for well-being, and life-enhancing movement.
Weight Inclusivity- Accept and respect the inherent diversity of body shapes and sizes and reject the idealizing or pathologizing of specific weights.
This principle encompasses challenging weight stigma and the thin ideal so that each individual receives the best care possible.
Health Enhancement- focus on personal practices that improve overall well-being, including physical, economic, social, spiritual, and emotional well being to improve quality of life.
This principle helps to encourage positive behaviors that are health promoting, rather than isolating specific health conditions to improve.
Respectful Care- provide care from an awareness that multiple influences such as socio-economic status, race, gender, sexual orientation, and other identities might impact weight stigma.
In order to provide respectful care it is crucial that providers are self aware of any stigmas/bias they may have and work to challenge them. Also, providers must receive informed consent to ensure patients have full knowledge of risks and outcomes of clinical recommendations given.
Eating for well-being- promote individualized eating based on hunger, satiety, nutritional needs, and pleasure rather than a diet focused on weight control.
When the body is properly fed and given the energy it needs based on honoring hunger, fullness, and cravings, it will naturally find a size that feels comfortable. Making choices that feel good physically and mentally is a positive step to overall well-being. This challenges the idea that dieting to reach a certain body size is an appropriate approach to health as a whole.
Life-enhancing movement- engaging in physical activity that feels enjoyable and brings positivity to life
Exploring movement that works best on the individual level, taking into account physical and mental capabilities is prioritized in intuitive movement. This approach challenges weight loss as a reason for exercise, and reminds people that movement can be seen as a way to destress, stretch, and energize their bodies and minds.
Why Choose HAES Doctors in NYC?
Choosing a HAES doctor NYC helps fill the gap and improve the quality of the patient-provider relationship. HAES doctors approach their patient visits holistically- which takes a level of connection and learning about all aspects of their patient’s lives. The medical community in New York City is extremely diverse. There is a wide range of services including advanced medical centers, medical schools, and specialized care. Living in NYC leaves patients with the privilege of having an abundance of HAES aligned providers easily acceptable.
Qualities of HAES Medical Professionals
If considering switching to a HAES aligned provider, you are taking a step towards a compassionate and non-judgmental approach to healthcare that focuses on well-being rather than weight. HAES aligned medical professionals are committed to patient-centered care and respect for body diversity. The HAES movement has curriculums where people (and providers) can learn about each of the 5 principles in detail, and become an expert in this framework. Here at Nourishing NY the team of HAES aligned dietitians provide nutrition counseling that is focused on health promoting habits, rather than goals around body size and weight. Having a dietitian that works closely with other medical providers can get you closer to overall health goals and living a life feels good, emotionally, mentally, and physically.
Services Offered by HAES Doctors
Services offered by HAES providers range within each area of healthcare. For example, medical doctors can manage disease without prescribed weight loss plans. HAES dietitians can also provide anti-diet nutrition counseling that encompasses intuitive eating, eating disorder support, and mindful eating practices. HAES aligned therapists work to provide therapy that encompasses body image support, eating disorder support, and processing around any hardships that may come from body/weight stigma within society.
No matter what healthcare professionals you see, you can trust that HAES aligned providers are all working towards a common goal- personalized plans that focus on holistic health. Nourishing NY’s dietitians can help to kickstart your journey towards redefining health and prioritizing overall well being.
How to Find HAES Doctors in NYC
If you are interested in finding HAES doctors within NYC, you can find referrals on the association for Size Diversity and Health Directory, or the Intuitive Eating Counselors directory. The HAES community also values the importance of referrals, so asking therapists and dietitians within this space for medical doctor referrals is an effective approach. If you are a client at Nourishing NY, we have a great network of providers in NYC we work closely with, so do not hesitate to ask your dietitian for any referrals you may need. When meeting with potential doctors, iterate your boundaries and health goals and how this plays into your lifestyle. Do not hesitate to ask about their approaches to disease management and any specific health conditions you may have to assure you are comfortable. After all, this is YOUR health and it is important to find a doctor that meets your needs.
To learn more about HAES and a weight neutral approach to health, reach out to our team of dietitians to see where nutrition counseling can fit into your health goals.
