Molly Hawke
Providers for Healthy Living, USA
Title: How do you define health?: Incorporating health at every size (TM) principles into psychiatric appointments to enhance overall wellness
Biography
Biography: Molly Hawke
Abstract
Health at Every Size (TM) rejects the idea that one's overall health and one's body size are inherently connected. It respects the diversity of body shapes and sizes, encourages joyful movement, and promotes individualized eating based on hunger, satiety, nutritional needs, and pleasure. Emphases on dieting and thinness are an unfortunate part of US culture, but many studies show that diets do not work long-term in the vast majority of individuals. In a US medical clinic or hospital, medical professionals often have limited time and little to no training in providing meaningful therapeutic interventions to patients. However, a trusted medical professional has the opportunity to substantially improve overall wellness by beginning a conversation about health and body that is free of weight bias. It can take just a few minutes to introduce basic principles of Health at Every Size (TM), provide education about the data supporting it, and encourage a change in thinking or behavior. The goal is to leave patients feeling that 'health' and 'well -being' is so much more than the size of one's body. Following this presentation, attendees should be able to: Understand the concept of weight bias and how it affects us, particularly medical professionals. Understand how 'diet culture', which is particularly pervasive in the United States, can negatively impact one's mental health and well-being. During a patient encounter, take as little as 2-3 minutes to introduce a Heath at Every Size (TM) principle, provide a brief education on it, and encourage a change in thinking or behavior.