By: Kerry Robinson, RD Date: 12/1/09

In our celebrity-crazed society, pressure to be thin hits home for a lot of women—and men, too. Who wouldn’t want a movie star-like figure? This type of pressure can sometimes lead to serious eating and exercise disorders that can be detrimental to one’s health. That’s why I was happy to see this article released by the Journal of the American Dietetic Association entitled, “Health-At-Every-Size and Eating Behaviors: One-Year Follow-Up Results of a Size Acceptance Intervention."

This study focused on achieving a healthier lifestyle through size acceptance; not strict dieting. No fad diets, counting calories, or killing yourself on the treadmill here! The article revealed that when striving to be healthier is more health-centered, rather than weight-centered, it can lead to greater success. After following up with 144 overweight and obese female study subjects at Laval University in Quebec, researchers discovered that after one year the women were less likely to eat due to emotional stimuli and were more likely to have greater control over their intake by following the Health-At-Every-Size (HAES) and support group programs. Simone Lemieux, RD, PhD, a professor at Laval University had this to say:

“Overall, these results suggest that, when compared to a control group, a HAES approach could have beneficial effects on eating behaviors related to disinhibition and hunger, these behavioral changes being related to a better body weight maintenance. However, the present study did not show distinctive effects of the HAES approach in comparison to a SS [social support group] intervention.”

There is definitely more research that needs to be done, but I think we are heading in the right direction. There are national campaigns out there that are promoting healthy body image and self-esteem programs in the communities. The whole idea is to enjoy the process of becoming a healthier you in the name of size (and self) acceptance, moderation, and balance…who wants to look like Angelina Jolie when you can be beautiful, healthy YOU!