Dove's Evolution Campaign
This weekend I received the November issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association (ADA), allowing me to keep in the know on the latest and greatest nutrition info. This month’s featured study was, “Does a Health-At-Every-Size Approach Work?” I tweeted a link to this press release earlier in the week, so I was surprisingly thrilled to receive my legit in-my-hands paper copy.
Surprisingly True Tidbits
- 15% of women and 11% of men say they would sacrifice more than 5 years of their lives to be the weight they want; 24% of women and 17 % of men say they would give up more than 3 years, according to a survey by Psychology Today
- 70% of girls ages 8 to 17 believe they are not thin or pretty enough, according to a study commissioned in 2008 by the beauty brand Dove
- A national survey of 1,007 women and men conducted for Fitness magazine by ICR/International Communications, found that over half of them would rather lose their jobs than be overweight, and a significant number of men (17%) and women (11%) said they would give up 20 IQ points to achieve a perfect body
Health Versus Weight
Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty
These nuggets of newsworthy data had me thinking … what a conundrum. In a time when America’s waistbands only continue to expand and the average height and weight of a woman is 5’4’’ and 163 pounds, we rarely see a real woman complete with curves, breasts, and a bum on ads. When a women sees this lack of real-deal chickadees in media it will make her self-lovin’ plummet (just reread the above facts!) and may even cause her to stop all healthifying efforts because let’s face it–when you feel like you’ll never “get there,” you’re less likely to go all out for it. But, the question is, what are people trying to achieve: the perfect weight or better health? If women are willing to give years of their lives and IQ points to weigh less, something tells me the focus is on the wrong thing …
So, what happens if you stress HEALTH way more than weight in the effort to get to that lean, mean, green, disease-fighting machine state–would people be more willing to keep up their healthifying ways? Would they feel better about themselves, accepting their bodies more, become slowly but surely HEALTHIFIED and get their self-lovin’ back up? Just look at the women above from Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty … they’re not the skinny-minis we’re accustomed to, but these gals look pretty fit, healthy, and gosh darn happy.
With all this floating in my head—I received my handy dandy ADA Journal with guess what?!? Okay—hold onto your seats—an article in-line with my lil’ noggins thoughts AND more importantly, some answers. Altogether now—woo-hoo!
Question–what was the article about?
Answer–the Health-At-Every-Size (HAES) Approach
You ask what is the Health-At-Every-Size (HAES) Approach?
HAES argues that health is related to behaviors independently of body weight status. HEAS approaches do not consider weight loss as the main outcome, but rather focus on a healthful lifestyle by promoting overall health benefits of behavior change related to dietary habits and physical activity, with an emphasis on size acceptance and non-dieting.
I LOVE this approach!
Key “Take Homes” from Does a HAES Approach Work?
- The HAES approach helped women NOT give into their unruly cravings or their surroundings (i.e. eating just because a huge plate of brownies at a BBQ or mounds of Cheetos at a party are right there).
- Plus, the HAES way may help get women to that lean, mean, green, disease fighting-machine state. In the study, HAES ladies were more likely to shed poundage and keep it off than gals in a weight support group or those not in any weight/wellness program. P.S These ladies were NEVER prompted to lose weight … their healthified actions caused that lil’ something extra to just come off
- One last note—gal pals in the HAES group were led by an RD (whoop-whoop!) and psychologist!
What Does This Mean?!?
Well—it means to start focusing on HEALTH and not the scale! That number you see when you look down will change slowly overtime (a good thing!) as you increase your healthifying ways (i.e. having an apple instead of a candy bar, checking portion sizes, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, brown-bagging it at lunch, sweating it up–you know this stuff!).
BUT, what will change more quickly is your energy level, self-confidence, mood, ability to hit the hay faster, the fact that you now can run that mile and hey—you’re not winded, and that extra perk you feel when you choose the broccoli as a side instead of mashed potatoes (disregard any looks you may get at the table, you’re on a mission for your health!).
SO, my lovely readers, I have a proposition for you …
Right now—think of 1 thing you want to do to be healthier, not lose weight—just be healthier! Got it? Okay, good. NOW—grab a pen and piece of paper. Oh YES, I am serious. Come on now, go on, yes, that pen on our desk will do just fine and so will that Post-it. Got it? Fabulous!
Now write down:
- One healthifying thing you are going to do
- How often you will do it
- Why you want to do it
- One thing your health allows you to do
- Finally, keep this somewhere you frequent and every time you do YOUR healthifying activity just notice how you FEEL and use this good-for-me feeling to keep you going on YOUR health journey.
And, just in case you’re wondering, YES–EVERYONE has something they can do to feel healthier and better.
Green Grapes Blog (GGB) On a Mission for Health
To wrap it up, I want you to know that GGB is simply devoted to getting readers a lil’ healthier while having some FUN. That is my promise—not radical weight loss through potions, or pills, but through a healthy lifestyle full of healthified ways. Remember, we’re in this for health, not the perfect body or lowest weight, but health. Don’t ever forget that.
Want to make that healthifying goal right now???
Or, share a HEALTHIFYING tip of your own???
Go ahead & post a comment!
15 Comments
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I say goodbye to fad diets, bogus “fat-burning” pills, and processed, non-food food. And, I smile hello to a healthifying lifestyle full of fruits, veggies, and whole grains, sweaty workouts, the occasional "chocolate fix," sleep, family and friend time, quality “me time,” and a focus on health NOT weight. I look forward to your comments and thoughts as the posts healthify on by! Thanks for reading!
I couldn’t agree more! The act of living a healthy lifestyle is so much more important than striving to fit into a specific size or comparing oneself to other peoples’ body type. I love to stress that the way a healthy lifestyle makes people FEEL (energetic, calm, well-rested, strong…) happens WAY faster then the way the lifestyle makes people LOOK.
As long as there are those of us out there who stress this, maybe, *maybe*, the concept will catch on. I believe it will, because if I don’t believe, who will? (besides you, of course. And JADA. And the handful of other RDs I know who actually eat.)
I really need to be exercising more. I’m making some changes to my work schedule in the near future to support my goal.
“70% of girls ages 8 to 17 believe they are not thin or pretty enough…” That’s disturbing. I blame TV/cable and advertising.
-Steve
Great post. It’s insane how many girls don’t feel they are beautiful or an adequate weight. I see so many girls around me deal with eating disorders, which really makes me sad. I think awareness is key.
Right on! I couldn’t agree more! Glad you enjoyed:)
Great post Corinne! I really enjoy reading your posts
I think it is sad how many girls don’t love themselves inside and out. It is so important!
Have a great night!
XXOO
Thanks Kris!
Glad you had a good read–you put a smile on my face! YES–it is sad to see fab woman have such a dip in self-lovin! It’s just as important to feel happy on the inside as it is to appear fit n’ fab on the outside. But, sometimes this is so easily forgotten!
Talk soon:) Or, shall I say–write soon!
Have a good one:)
Corinne
What a great blog!! I must add you to my Roll. Very well-written posts. Nice article. I too get caught up in this unhealthy body obsession. I compare way too much – and it works both ways – like if I want to have carrot cake everyday…I don’t want to feel bad for it. I mean I do eat healthy, produce/whole grains/lean protein/healthy fats…so is having ice cream or indulging a few nights a week really too much? I’m sick of hearing it both ways to be honest
Aw–so sweet! Thanks for your kind note! To answer your question–NO, having ice cream or a treat every day is NOT too much! 1 serving of ice cream a day is A-okay!!! Personally, I adore chocolate covered raisins! And, yes … I have a little every day. I always say if your lifestyle, NOT DIET, but lifestyle is about 90% healthy, use that extra 10 or so % to have that sweet tooth item or just something fun! Remember, you need to enjoy what you’re eating to keep you on your healthy trek!
xx Corinne
Thanks for the comment Corinne! It means alot – I’ve been getting some comments about what or how I eat…and it’s really bothered me…especially because I don’t even post my meals for the day – usually just interesting finds/products or random snacks, meals without full portion sizes. So when someone says ‘that’s a small portion’ or something …well, they don’t see the 2nd serving I take up and all the desserts I eat after…so it makes me feel self-conscious…not cool
. But your positivity about my blog made me feel better 
Thank you! I’ll add you to my roll – and if you like to continue to read mine, you can do the same – cheers !!
You just MUST keep in mind that you’re on your health journey for you and not anyone else! You need to do what works for you and makes YOU happy. THANKS for the blogger support! And–I hear ya! Keep up the good work. Blog soon!
xxCorinne
Hi Corinne! Thanks for checking out my blog. I really like yours! I especially like this post. I feel the media targets women specifically because they know we’re insecure about our weight and self esteem. The ads that really strike a nerve with me are ones that claim they’ll help you look your best and then you’ll get a man! Like we should only look good for men? I’d rather look and feel good for myself. I stopped buying womens magazines for that very reason. I think blogs are a much better resource for healthy living tips.
I look forward to reading more and I’m adding you to my blogroll!
Good for you! I couldn’t agree more!
And–Thanks Melissa!I’ll most definitely be reading more from you too and spreading the blogger love.
Best,
Corinne
hey corrine, my exercise bio teacher at UC Davis has always said that it’s more important to focus on the forrest of health benefits and not the tree of weight loss! Couldnt agree with this blog and article more
Let’s hope that women (and men) everywhere learn to accept their body weight and instead concentrate on good health at any size. We have been preaching this for years but it’s nice to see that this way of thinking is becoming more mainstream. Love your blog!
Thanks Janice! Glad you enjoyed my blog. That means a lot. I love yours too! Have you on my blogroll