We’ve all seen the tag line at the bottom of a diet ad “Results not Typical” or “The average client loses .25 pounds in 5 years” or whatever. As a result of successful deceptive trade practices lawsuits brought against the industry by the Federal Trade Commission they are required to to say that because their product fails most of the time, and it is considered deceptive advertising to tout a statistical anomaly as your typical outcome.
So what would a Health at Every Size disclaimer look like? It could also read “results not typical” since people who practice HAES typically don’t experience the diet failure, weight cycling, body image issues and lack of long-term health benefits that plague the dieting majority.
Or what about a side effects warning (you know, like how Alli tells us to wear dark pants to work and bring an extra pair because of possible anal leakage?)
How about this on the side of the HAES box:
Side effects may include – improved metabolic health markers, improved self-esteem, elimination of delusions of impossible thinness, and lifting of the mass psychosis conflating weight and health. No extra pants necessary – does not cause anal leakage.
Health is complicated and not entirely within our control. Our current thin = healthy paradigm makes things even more complicated because it uses weight as a proxy for health and weight loss as a proxy for healthy behaviors, making body size and dieting middle men where none are necessary. A Health at Every Size paradigm makes much more sense to me since it uses health and healthy behaviors, there is no need for a proxy since we can actually focus on health and behavior. So there is no need to continue with the charade that we can tell how healthy people are by looking at them, or by doing a simple calculation of the ratio of their weight and height. Who thinks that it’s time for a paradigm shift?!
UPDATE!
The Fit Fatties Across America project is a huge success so far. We’ve walked, shimmied, swum, cycled and moved across the US for a total of over 2,500 miles! And it’s only just March. Help us hit the west coast this week by entering your minutes or miles of movement at www.fitfatties.com while you’re there check out the photo and video galleries (and consider adding your own) and the forum and groups!
Like the blog? Here’s more of my stuff:
The Book: Fat: The Owner’s Manual The E-Book is Name Your Own Price! Click here for details
The Dance Class DVDs: Buy the Dance Class DVDs for Every Body Dance Now! Click here for the details
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I do size acceptance activism full time. I created a membership program so that people who read the blog and feel they get value out of it and want to support the work I do can become members for ten bucks a month To make that even cooler, I’ve now added a component called “DancesWithFat Deals” which are special deals to my members from size positive merchants. Once you are a member I send out an e-mail once a month with the various deals and how to redeem them – your contact info always stays completely private.
