November Discussion Summary

Most people who responded to the questions said that they favored the HAES approach regardless of research findings. Many cited that they appreciated the long-term benefits of such a program. Although the research shows that few measureable improvements were achieved with the HAES approach to weight loss, this journal club feels that mixing HAES principles with traditional weight loss strategies is the best way to preserve clients’ self esteem while they are attempting to lose weight. The overall feeling is that a client’s level of acceptance for their body size and shape is paramount, regardless of results.

All respondents thought that the HAES approach would be most effective with a client base that was either consumed by body image or unconcerned with it. They reasoned that for a population that was very concerned with body image—people with eating disorders, for instance—the HAES approach might provide a refreshing reprieve from the numbers associated with weight management. For populations that placed body image as a lower priority it was postulated that the HAES approach would reinforce good health behaviors.
Despite somewhat disappointing results from the HAES study, all respondents express hope that either longer-term studies or new studies would validate the HAES approach to weight loss.