At Funky Forest Health & Wellbeing we operate from a Non-Diet, Body Acceptance, Health at Every Size® philosophy which values people for who they are and prioritises a focus on WELLBEING rather than WEIGHT.
What does all that mean?
What does all that mean?
Non-Diet Approach
The Non-Diet approach reflects the understanding that restrictive weight loss diets are not the key to health and wellbeing. Instead, dieting often leads in one of two harmful directions:
The non-diet approach may still involve a focus on nutrition, but it does so in combination with a consideration of other aspects of wellbeing such as moderation, flexibility, spontaneity and pleasure.
You can read more about the non-diet approach here.
- the path of yo-yo dieting and weight cycling where people swing between periods of controlled, restrictive eating alternating with times of difficulty regulating hunger and fullness due to a focus on food rules rather than intuitive eating
- the path of obsessively focussing on weight and shape to the point that people become unable to eat in a relaxed, moderate way, placing them at risk of a clinical Eating Disorder.
The non-diet approach may still involve a focus on nutrition, but it does so in combination with a consideration of other aspects of wellbeing such as moderation, flexibility, spontaneity and pleasure.
You can read more about the non-diet approach here.
Body acceptance
Body Acceptance encourages a self-compassionate approach to caring for the body we have. This approach prioritises a healthy mind-body relationship enabling us to be kind to ourselves and grateful for our body's functionality, taking a holistic approach to caring for our health and wellbeing.
Practitioners at Funky Forest Health & Wellbeing value our clients as they are, offering a non-judgemental approach which appreciates size diversity.
Practitioners at Funky Forest Health & Wellbeing value our clients as they are, offering a non-judgemental approach which appreciates size diversity.
Health at every size®
Health at Every Size® (HAES) is a 'weight neutral' approach which focuses on health and wellbeing, not numbers.
The HAES® principles from the Association for Size Diversity & Health are as follows:
You can read more about Health at Every Size® here.
The HAES® principles from the Association for Size Diversity & Health are as follows:
- Weight Inclusivity: Accept and respect the inherent diversity of body shapes and sizes and reject the idealising or pathologising of specific weights.
- Health Enhancement: Support health policies that improve and equalise access to information and services, and personal practices that improve human well-being, including attention to individual physical, economic, social, spiritual, emotional, and other needs..
- Respectful Care: Acknowledge our biases, and work to end weight discrimination, weight stigma, and weight bias. Provide information and services from an understanding that socio-economic status, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, and other identities impact weight stigma, and support environments that address these inequities.
- Eating for Well-being: Promote flexible, individualised eating based on hunger, satiety, nutritional needs, and pleasure, rather than any externally regulated eating plan focused on weight control.
- Life-Enhancing Movement: Support physical activities that allow people of all sizes, abilities, and interests to engage in enjoyable movement, to the degree that they choose.
You can read more about Health at Every Size® here.
BUT if you are under your most healthy weight...
OUR APPROACH WILL BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
OUR APPROACH WILL BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
Some of our clients have restrictive Eating Disorders and may be struggling to meet their basic nutritional needs. These people may need a more deliberate focus on their eating patterns and weight in to restore their body's health and vitality. The approach we take will depend on your needs and will be negotiated between you and your practitioner as part of your treatment.