Resources (organized by media type)

Featured Resources

Lindo’s most popularly accessed publication is Weight Science: Evaluating the Evidence for a Paradigm Shift, co-authored by Lucy Aphramor, in Nutrition Journal, 2011, a literature review that has up-ended thinking about weight. Next is “Fat Is Not the Problem—Fat Stigma Is” in Scientific American, co-authored with Amee Severson. Other popularly accessed resources include the HAES Manifesto, Intuitive Eating for People with Diabetes: Enjoy your Food, Respect your Body, co-authored by Judith Matz, in Diabetes Self-Management Magazine, and Reflections on Fat Acceptance: Lessons Learned from Privilege, a transcript of a keynote speech delivered at the conference of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance. A sampling of her popular-media bylines includes: Huffington Post, Everyone Knows Obesity Is Hurting Us, But Is the Fight Against Obesity the Problem? and the ASDAH healthateverysizeblog, Fat Stigma – Not Fat – is the Real Enemy. Linda encourages all to sign the public HAES Pledge, and to make use of the HAES Community Resources.

Resources by Audience

• View self-help resources
• View resources for health care providers
• View resources for dietitians and foodies
• View resources for HAES advocates
• View resources for journalists
• View resources for parents, teachers and school administrators
• View resources for fitness workers
• View resources for politicians and policy makers

Peer-Reviewed Research

Due to copyright restrictions, only the first article in this section is downloadable. (Resources in other sections are freely accessible.) Bacon, L., & Aphramor, L. Weight Science: Evaluating the Evidence for a Paradigm Shift, Nutrition Journal, 2011, 10(9).

This is the premiere article that has up-ended thinking about weight. Includes all the arguments that support a paradigm shift from weight to health, meticulously referenced.

Bacon, L, VanLoan M , Stern JS, Keim N. Size Acceptance and Intuitive Eating Improve Health for Obese Female Chronic Dieters. Journal of American Dietetic Association. 2005;105:929-936. Request this article. (A pdf file will be sent.) Bacon L, VanLoan M , Stern JS, Keim N. Low Bone Mass in Premenopausal Chronic Dieting Obese Women.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2004; 58, 966-971. Bacon, L., Tales of Mice and Leptin: False Promises and New Hope in Weight Control. Healthy Weight Journal, 2003;17(2):24-27. Bacon, L., Keim, N.L., Van Loan, M.D., Derricote, M., Gale, B, Kazaks, A., and Stern, J.S., Evaluating a “Non-diet” Wellness Intervention for Improvement of Metabolic Fitness, Psychological Well-Being and Eating and Activity Behaviors. International Journal of Obesity, 2002; 26(6), 854-865. Stern JS, Bacon L, Keim NL, Van Loan MD. Osteoporosis In Premenopausal Chronic Dieting Obese Women.9th International Congress of Obesity, 2002; Sao Paolo, Brazil. Bacon L, Keim NL, Van Loan MD, Stern JS. Evaluation Of A Non-Diet Wellness Program For Obese Women. 9th International Congress of Obesity, 2002. Sao Paolo, Brazil. Bacon, L., A. Kazaks, B. Gale, M. Derricote, P. Morel, N. L. Keim, J. S. Stern, and M. D. Van Loan, Observed Osteopoenia or Osteoporosis in Obese Women. Obesity Research, 2000;8 (Suppl 1): 126S.

Blog Posts/Magazine Articles

• We're Wired to Maintain a Healthy Weight You can learn how to reset your weight regulation system and achieve your healthiest weight simply and enjoyably without thinking about calories or dieting.
  We Must Choose Revolution Over Privilege and Complacency – Here’s How I’m Doing It A behind-the-scenes description of the challenge in speaking truth to power in nutrition education, and a rally call for community building and revolution in hateful times.
  Trust Your Body: Forget About Dieting Dieting is seductive, but it doesn't deliver on its promises. Learn why body trust is more successful.
  the HAES® files: This is For the Fat Ambassadors, their Allies, and a Call Out to their Detractors (Well-Intentioned and Not) Linda ends this inspiring and compassionate post with "final words to our fat ambassadors: Yes, You’re Fat. It’s Okay. Say It Loud. Or Quiet. Own It. You’re bigger than your detractors, in ways far more important than physical size."
  the HAES® files: There Is No Social Justice without Bodies Being less likely to be hired or get promotions, being paid less, receiving less adequate medical treatment, being socially excluded, bullied and targeted in derogatory comments: these are the consequences of the "war against obesity".
  The HAES Files: Put up your Dukes - How HAES Fought its Way to the ADA Platform The long road to the 2011 American Dietetic Association's Annual Meeting (FNCE) debate between Dr. Linda Bacon advocating for a HAES approach and Dr. John Foreyt promoting the conventional anti-obesity approach.
  The HAES Files: On the Fat Beat, the Health At Every Size Approach Deserves "Equal Weight" The problem is not just that contrarian voices aren’t heard in articles about weight, it’s that few journalists recognize those voices even exist. Let's challenge journalists to challenge their assumptions and deliver the full story on weight.
  The HAES Files: Obamacare's Misfire on Weight - New Workplace Provisions that Deserve a Pink Slip Governmental policies and programs, such as certain provisions in the Affordable Care Act as well as anti-obesity campaigns, can help spread fat stigma and prejudice in the workplace resulting in harm to employees.
  The HAES Files: Notes to Myself - Finding Hope in Difficult Times Dr. Linda Bacon reflects on her experience as a debate speaker at the 2011 American Dietetic Association's annual Conference. Provides hope and inspiration for managing resistance and developing resilience.
  The HAES Files: Just Add Connection - Recipes for Knowledge Creation in Nutrition The reader is challenged to move from applying scientific reductionism in nutrition practice to the concept of relational imagination. Co-authored with Dr. Lucy Aphramor.
  The HAES Files: Hypocrisy of Obesity War Exposed - The HAES Peace Movement Makes Inroads Description of the debate between Dr. Linda Bacon and Dr. John Foreyt on the topic of HAES vs. the conventional weight reduction paradigm at the 2011 American Dietetic Association conference.
  The HAES Files: Honey, I Can't Shrink the Kids - Why the Obamas Need a New Doctor Michelle Obama: I'm with you in wanting to improve the health of children in the U.S. through improved nutrition and physical activity, but let's not do it on the backs of the fat kids or with misguided measures like BMI.
  The HAES Files: Fat Stigma - Not Fat - is the Real Enemy Real harm is being done due to the focus on fat/weight loss/size as the prerequisite for health. Fat stigma is the real problem causing ill health.
  The HAES Files: De-Stigmatizing Our Workplaces - A Start Dump worksite obesity prevention programs. Here's a step-by-step plan to challenge stigmatizing messages in your company, and propose criteria for more respectful work places.
  The HAES Files: Blackboard Bungle - Rethinking Nutrition Education Contemporary nutrition education does more harm than good. Here's an analysis, and a prescription for change. Co-authored with Dr. Lucy Aphramor.
  The Contrarian Voice: Health at Any Size: Why Diets are Harmful and Counterproductive Research refutes conventional views on weight and the value of prescriptions for dieting/weight loss; focus should be on health behaviors, not physical attributes.
  THE CAUSE OF EATING DISORDERS, AND WHEN A DIET IS AN EATING DISORDER – AN INTERVIEW WITH LINDA BACON, PHD This short interview supports parents whose kids struggle in lightening up on themselves and supporting their kids in abandoning diets.
  Stress Mess: How "Fighting Fat" Makes People Sick Public health interventions promoting weight-loss fail to account for "social determinants" such as socioeconomic status and are not scientifically sound. The stress resulting from stigmatization in the name of health causes ill health.
  Me . . . As I'm Meant to be? This heartfelt letter to a Washington Post journalist exposes the pain behind the drive to lose weight, and the hope and freedom that can come from dumping the diet mentality and trusting ourselves.
  I Hurt Therefore I Eat-The Truth Behind Emotional Eating Too many of us have come to view food as a blanket for our emotions, numbing them as we turn to food to provide the love and comfort we crave. But food doesn't "fix" feelings. Learn how to best take care of yourself.
  Ending Foodie Fat Bashing Using obesity fears as a rallying call has damaging consequences. Foodies, invite fat people to the table so we can all advocate for good food.
  Diets. Don't. Work. Body Trust Does. Diets. Don’t. Work. Even when we call them a “lifestyle change.” For so, so many reasons. Linda explains why.
  Cutting the Obesity Epidemic Down to Size This article will inspire you to dump the guilt and shame often associated with holiday eating, let go of those New Year's diet resolutions, and discover a much more effective - and effortless - way to manage your weight.
  Bread and Circus (Hold the Bread): Weight of the Nation Deserves an Imperial Thumbs Down Cans HBO's documentary series, Weight of the Nation. The real enemy is the stigmatization of fat/weight. The solution? Change the focus to promoting good self-care for everyone, regardless of size.
  Bacon, L. & Matz, J., Intuitive Eating for People with Diabetes: Enjoy your Food, Respect your Body The Health at Every Size approach for Diabetes Management is introduced, including tips for switching from a "diet" mentality to intuitive eating. Make food enjoyment your goal, not your fear.
  AMA Misfire: All That's Wrong With Medicalizing "Obesity" Labeling obesity a disease pathologizes physical appearance rather than identifying illness. An excerpt from Linda's newsletter.
  11 Reasons Your ‘Concern’ for Fat People’s Health Isn’t Helping Anyone "I'm just concerned about their health." How many times have you heard this? Linda Bacon and Melissa Fabello help you understand what is really being said and why its not helpful.
  "Everyone Knows Obesity is Hurting Us," But is the Fight Against Obesity the Problem? Tune out the loud "everyone knows" claims about obesity, shape and diet and challenge the health "experts". It's our obsession over body fat that s a costly, crippling threat to health and well-being.

Seminar Transcripts

• The War on Obesity: A Battle Worth Fighting? Maintained Weight Loss Let's face the facts: we don’t know of healthy methods that result in sustained weight loss. Consider the evidence.
  The War on Obesity: A Battle Worth Fighting? Intuitive Eating Attuned eating is more effective than dieting. Read why.
  The War on Obesity: A Battle Worth Fighting? Conflict of Interest Differences Conflicts of interest mar research. Look behind the scenes of obesity research and see how industry influences researchers.
  The Resilient Practitioner: Strategies for Managing Resistance to Size Acceptance Destabilizing the status quo of size acceptance can come with some uncomfortable consequences, but using the power of resilience can help advocates grow and become stronger.
  Reflections on Fat Acceptance: Lessons Learned from Privilege Drawing on her personal experience and observations of internalized oppression and thin privilege, Linda Bacon identifies stumbling blocks to fat acceptance and strategies for personal empowerment and effecting change in others. Keynote talk, NAAFA.

Podcasts

• Winning the Weight War through Giving Up the Fight "Professor Linda Bacon is a beacon of hope as she demands social justice, and tackles our fat phobic culture with courage, conviction and empirical evidence to back her up."
  UC Davis Nutritionist (Linda Bacon) Advises: Save Your Money on Diet Books This podcast challenges the assumptions that diet and physical activity lead to long-term weight loss and suggests a focus on intuitive eating, enjoyable movement, and other self-care.
  Health at Every Size book trailer, Providers Edition: podcast Book trailer for Health at Every Size. Summarizes the book and provides practical strategies to help adopt a Health at Every Size approach in clinical practice.
  Health at Every Size book trailer, For Individuals Wanting to Lose Weight: podcast Book trailer for Health at Every Size. Discusses the problems of a weight-centered approach to health and the basic tenets of the new paradigm, Health at Every Size. Inspires.
  End the War on Obesity: Make Peace With Your Patients (Requires free login.) This podcast challenges assumptions about weight and health and discusses the evidence showing a Health at Every Size approach is more effective than a weight-focused approach for clinical care.

Audio Interviews

• On Hold with Atchka! and Dr. Linda Bacon: An Audio Interview A little tentative and skeptical at first, Atchka asks some hard questions that eventually bring him on board with HAES.
  Interview with Dr. Linda Bacon, The Keto Diet Podcast, by Leanne Vogel “Linda Bacon, chatting with us about the process of beginning to accept your body, the reason dieting doesn’t work, how to deal with feelings of shame, and more.”
  Health At Every Size: "Obesity" is NOT a Health Crisis! Dr. Linda Bacon joins Marlo on Blog Talk Radio to discuss the biggest myths about dieting, weight loss and "obesity." Groundbreaking research the diet industry does NOT want you to hear.
  Discrimination, Lies and Health at Every Size, Flaunt Performance Podcast Linda Bacon talks to Flaunt Performance about Health at Every Size, research on health and weight, and discrimination.

Written Interviews

• What are You Truly Hungry For: An Interview with Linda Bacon In this candid interview, Linda responds to the question, "What are You Truly Hungry For?"
  Profile of Perseverance: Dr. Linda Bacon A candid interview with Dr. Linda Bacon. Discusses motivation, handling resistance, and resilience.
  People We Love: Linda Bacon And The Health At Every Size Movement Linda Bacon gets real about her journey, what "converts" people to HAES perspective, and connections between the personal and the political, with special attention to gender.
  More Magazine: Fat? Who Cares! Why Weight Doesn’t Matter, an interview with Linda Bacon, Peter Jaret. Bacon speaks out on how weight-loss efforts are statistically futile—and how you can boost your health big time without dropping a pound.
  Body Trust Insights with Linda Bacon and Lucy Aphramor Linda and Lucy get personal about our journey to Health at Every Size. Touches on self-acceptance, self-compassion, and resilience.

Position Statements

• Weight Loss Treatments: Pharmaceuticals Weight loss supplements come with some pretty messy side effects and no long-term evidence of safety or efficacy. Read this before you invest (again).
  Weight Loss Treatments: Bariatric Surgery With more than 90 possible side effects including death, bariatric surgery is not the Holy Grail of weight loss. Learn what the "experts" aren't telling us. A must-read for people considering surgery.
  The HAES Manifesto The Health at Every Size Manifesto, reproduced from Linda's groundbreaking book. Summarizes hot topics and the need for a paradigm shift. A must-have for everyone's library.
  The Body Manifesto Linda Bacon's inspiring vision of the path to a more just and compassionate world, where all bodies are respected.
  Reflections on Thin Privilege and Responsibility Thinner people benefit from discrimination against larger people. This simple discussion helps readers understand responsible use of "thin privilege."
  Moving On: From Weight to What Matters We lose out when we view life through a weight lens. It's not just misinformed, but damaging. Reconsider the evidence. Change your paradigm. Regain your self-trust and joy.
  Helping Kids Establish Nourishing Eating Habits An excerpt from Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth about Your Weight, this will help you instill a sense of agency for your kids, and steer you away from trying to control what they eat. They can take care of themselves! Starts halfway down pg 1.
  Health Care Providers: Providing Sensitive Care for People of All Sizes Motivating good self-care through attention to health behaviors - and dropping the weight focus.
  For People Who Consider Size Acceptance Dangerous Hounding people to lose weight is not just ineffective, it's damaging. People make better self-care choices when they start from body appreciation, not from a drive to change their body.
  Final Words: For Health Professionals Resistant to Health at Every Size Dropping a weight focus runs counter to much of what we're taught as health professionals. But here's why you should listen to the naysayers anyway.
  Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Comments Provided on Wellness Programs Evidence in support of ending weight discrimination in the workplace.
  Bacon's Testimony in Massachusetts' anti-discrimination law Bacon's testimony in support of adding weight as a protected category in Massachusetts' anti-discrimination law.
  A Message for Therapists on Compassionate Therapy for Weight Concerns Resist the temptation to view weight loss attempts and dieting as self-care. Learn how to better support positive body image and self-care behaviors.
  A Message for School Administrators and Teachers Anti-obesity campaigns, including BMI "report-cards," are damaging and ineffective. Learn how to best inspire good health habits for your students.
  A Message for People Who Have Lost Weight How are behaviors affect our weight is extremely individual, and whatever you did to lose weight may not be helpful for someone else. Learn how you can use your experience to help, not harm.
  A Message for People Who Have Diseases Blamed on Their Weight Many diseases get blamed on weight, with weight loss proposed as the solution. Here's another framing that will be much more helpful in healing.
  A Message for People Considering Their Next Diet Maintaining a weight that is healthy for your body can be effortless.
  A Message for People Considering Bariatric Surgery Combine the fact that bariatric surgery is among the highest-paying surgical specialties with the vulnerability of desperate patients, and it's just a setup for disaster.
  A Message for People Committed to Food Justice and Sustainable Agriculture There should be more Weight justice in the Food justice movement.
  A Message for Legislators/Politicians on Obesity Treatment and Prevention Policies Change the paradigm: Make health promotion your platform. Obesity treatment and prevention messaging is harmful.
  A Message for Journalists/Writers/People in the Media: Covering Weight Concerns The "obesity epidemic," if it ever existed, is long over, yet the media rarely reports that fact. Learn how to find and report the real facts. Be a responsible and ethical journalist.
  A Message for Health Care Providers and Administrators and Staff of Obesity Prevention or Treatment Programs You can better support good health by switching the focus from weight to health. Change the paradigm: Obesity treatment/prevention is harmful, but improved health behavior goals support people of all sizes.
  A Message for Fitness Professionals Change the paradigm. You can better support your clients by abandoning weight loss goals. It is possible to be both fat and fit.

Miscellaneous

• AMA Misfire: All That's Wrong With Medicalizing "Obesity" Labeling obesity a disease pathologizes physical appearance rather than identifying illness. An excerpt from Linda's newsletter.
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Comments Provided on Wellness Programs Evidence in support of ending weight discrimination in the workplace.
• Foreward to Yoga XXL by Ingrid Kollak In this foreward to Ingrid Kollak's Yoga XXL: A Journey to Health for Bigger People, Dr. Linda Bacon shows that size is no barrier to enjoying great health and satisfying physical activity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Current topics:

• Orthopedic surgeons: helping patients with joint problems Joint pain? Prescribed movement is more effective medical care than prescribed weight loss for ALL people with orthopedic concerns.
  Calorie Monitoring Calorie monitoring won't help you to lose weight - and it may just backfire. Letting go of the food rules is much more effective.

What others are saying about this research

The research was conducted at University of California, Davis, with support from the Western Human Nutrition Research Center, a division of the United States Department of Agriculture.

• United States Department of Agriculture, Health at Every Size: New Hope for Obese Americans Findings from a Bacon et al. (2005) study support a Health at Every Size approach compared to traditional diet and exercise on indicators of physical and psychological health.

Check out these three hard-hitting NY Times articles which discuss Bacon’s HAES research/book:

• New York Times (Katz, Mandy), Tossing Out the Diet and Embracing the Fat This hard-hitting NY Times feature article presents an overview of the size acceptance movement and the value of embracing our fat.
• New York Times Sunday Magazine (Marantz Henig, Robin), Losing The Weight Stigma Do we need to wage a war against obesity? The evidence suggests it does more harm than good. The Health at Every Size movement provides an antidote.
• New York Times Magazine (Michael, Renee), Health At Every Size? Highlights Bacon and Aphramor's literature review (2011); the HAES approach is both evidence-based and effective.