How is the health at every size paradigm being practiced?

The Health at Every Size® (HAES) model, which shifts focus from weight loss as a health outcome to improvement of nutrition and physical activity regardless of weight change, is rapidly gaining popularity as a social justice movement and professional paradigm. In order to explore how health professionals are operationalizing HAES principles in their work, a sample of HAES-aligned practitioners (n = 76) completed an online survey of demographics, adherence to HAES principles, and examples of their use in practice. Most respondents were White and female (96.1%, n = 73 for both measures). Mental health providers comprised 30.5% (n = 23) of the sample, and dietitians or nutritionists were 19.7% (n = 15). Other occupations included college professors and health promotion specialists. The most frequent recipients of participants' work were adults (n = 22, 28.9%), women (n = 17, 22.4%), and the general public (n = 17, 22.4%). Participants provided 541 examples of employment of HAES principles. Most frequent examples were: re-framing physical activity as fun and enjoyable rather than a means of weight loss (14.9%, n = 81); promoting holistic views of health independent of weight status (12.2%, n = 66); advocacy for HAES® principles within the profession through teaching and public speaking (9.8%, n = 53); vocally challenging weight stigma and bias (4.6%, n = 25). HAES is an evidence-based paradigm already in use by practitioners in multiple disciplines. Results of this study can help better systematize HAES professional education and provide support to practitioners in its use.