Career Transition: Retirement from HAES Advocacy

A Personal Message From Dr. Bacon

I am now retired from my focus on weight science and the Health at Every Size* (HAES) paradigm. It’s with a mix of emotions that I share this writing, but I believe it’s important to shed light on the circumstances leading to this shift and the broader issues within the HAES movement as I know others struggle with these same issues and may benefit from this insight.

Over the years, HAES ideology has evolved to encompass a social justice awareness, a progression I’m proud to have contributed to through my work, including co-authoring Body Respect, one of the pioneering books to ground HAES ideas within the social justice framework.

Regrettably, the primary organization representing the HAES ideology failed to navigate this evolution gracefully, fostering a toxic culture marked by intolerance and punitive attitudes. My efforts to address these issues internally, seeking to foster dialogue and promote a more inclusive and respectful environment, were met with resistance and I ultimately faced cancellation.

For over two decades, I dedicated myself to educating others about weight and health, challenging conventional narratives and delivering a contrarian message that could support folks in appreciating their bodies, sway public opinion, improve the quality of healthcare, and change legislation. My career was fulfilling and I cherished the opportunity to make a positive impact.

That came crashing down on March 10th, 2022. The leaders of the professional organization that had been my home for 16 years accused me of harming the very people I was intent on supporting. With dramatic public spectacle, they exiled me from the organization and its community. Their open letter was released simultaneously with a blogger making similar contentions. Both posts were made without any attempt on the authors’ part to discuss or resolve their concerns privately. The organization also made public a series of private emails from me, and the blogger made public a phone call recorded without my awareness. A wave of ad hominem attacks followed on social media.

The aftermath of my cancellation exposed the divisive nature of online discourse, with reactions ranging from disbelief to fervent condemnation.

Some people were appalled by the absurdity and cruelty of the claims against me. The drama was even featured on a podcast which “scours the internet for its craziest, silliest, most sociopathic content.” Some read or listened to the private communications that had been released and reported that the claims misrepresented my words, suggesting that my detractors  constructed a “straw man” and attacked that persona, not me.

At the same time, others expressed righteous anger at the alleged harm I have done. Emboldened by a moral righteousness, these detractors orchestrated a well-calculated, strategic attack to root out the alleged “danger” I represent and gain the power they believe they had been denied. They went so far as to circulate a list of people who had “associated” with me throughout my career, demanding they make a public apology for that association, with the implied threat that non-compliance could result in cancellation. Algorithms that make sensationalism profitable fed off of my stellar reputation as an advocate for social justice and the negative inflammatory postings went viral almost immediately, with over a million people witnessing. Fearful of rejection or similar punishment, many who had misgivings became complicit or remained silent in order to protect themselves.

Within days, my HAES career was over. The future I had spent two decades working toward was taken from me. Ironically, those on a mission to support body positivity finally accomplished what the fat-haters, anti-obesity industry, and weight loss promoters have been trying and failing to do to me throughout my career.

Combine fear with the very human need for belonging and it’s hardly surprising to witness the susceptibility of many to the bad behavior exhibited in my cancellation. Equally unsurprising is the emergence of seemingly impenetrable defenses, fortified by a sense of righteousness that they are on high moral ground. If people ever considered that their efforts are impeding the justice they seek to establish, causing more harm than healing, it would not only jeopardize their reputation, social standing, political influence, and livelihood, but also strike at the very core of their identity. It’s a deeply human instinct, a primal drive, to unconsciously shield oneself from such threats.

The experience left me profoundly distressed, grappling with feelings of betrayal and trauma. It saddens me not only to witness the tarnishing of my reputation, but also to see the enduring spectacle lingering on the internet, continuing to perpetuate fear in others. The damage inflicted upon a movement that has been making significant strides in transforming science, healthcare and public perception, offering hope for so many, is disheartening.

However, I find solace in knowing that I’ve emerged from this experience with newfound understanding and resilience. I am not only healing but experiencing posttraumatic growth, emerging stronger and more insightful than before.

These experiences give me freedom. No longer beholden to managing others’ perceptions I’m free to be me, without (or rather, with greatly reduced) fear of judgment. Getting here was a painful and difficult process, but I now know it to be an easier life. Belonging isn’t true belonging when it requires self-censorship and intimacy is compromised when we don’t fully show up. It’s a heavy burden when our self-esteem is attached to being valued in the eyes of others. I wasn’t fully conscious of this burden until it was lifted and I came to experience a lightness, a deeper joy than I knew possible, and a deepening of relationships. I am now more confident in my resilience and ability to sit with whatever life has in store for me.

Moving forward, I have embarked on a new chapter. My forthcoming book, tentatively titled “Excommunicated: Trauma, Healing, and Putting the “Just” Back in Social Justice Movements,” aims to spark critical reflection within social justice circles and offer strategies for healing and resilience.

While my retirement from HAES advocacy marks the end of one chapter, I remain grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to impact lives and contribute to important conversations. I invite you to explore my updated website, where I’ve curated my work and provided some closure to this chapter of my career.

*Health at Every Size and HAES are registered trademarks of The Association for Size Diversity and Health and used with permission.