What is weight inclusive care?
Why Weight-Inclusive Care Matters in Eating Disorder Treatment
If you or someone you love is seeking treatment for an eating disorder, you may have come across the term "weight-inclusive care." But what does it mean, and why is it so important in eating disorder recovery?
What Is Weight-Inclusive Care?
Weight-inclusive care is an approach that recognizes that health and well-being are not determined by body size. Rather than focusing on weight loss or BMI as markers of success, weight-inclusive care prioritizes healing relationships with food and body, improving mental and physical well-being, and fostering sustainable self-care practices. This framework aligns with the principles of Health at Every Size® (HAES®), which emphasize respect, compassionate care, and access to evidence-based treatment for individuals in all body sizes.
Why Weight-Inclusive Care Matters in Eating Disorder Treatment
1. Eating Disorders Don’t Have a “Look”
One of the biggest misconceptions about eating disorders is that they only affect people in smaller or larger bodies. In reality, eating disorders can impact individuals across all body sizes. Unfortunately, those in larger bodies are often overlooked or even encouraged to engage in disordered behaviors under the guise of "health." Weight-inclusive care ensures that everyone gets the support they need without harmful weight-based assumptions.
2. Weight Focus Can Reinforce Disordered Behaviors
Traditional approaches to eating disorder treatment sometimes still emphasize weight restoration or weight control as primary goals. While medical stabilization is sometimes necessary, focusing on weight alone can reinforce harmful beliefs that equate worth and health with body size. A weight-inclusive approach shifts the focus to healing from disordered eating patterns, rebuilding trust with food, and addressing emotional and psychological well-being.
3. Weight Stigma Is Harmful
Research shows that weight stigma—the discrimination or judgment based on body size—can contribute to the development and maintenance of eating disorders. People in larger bodies often face medical and social stigma that can make recovery more challenging. A weight-inclusive therapist acknowledges these challenges and provides a space where clients can heal without judgment or pressure to change their body size.
4. Sustainable Recovery Prioritizes Health Behaviors, Not Weight
Recovery is about so much more than a number on the scale. A weight-inclusive approach helps clients build sustainable habits that support their mental and physical well-being, such as intuitive eating, movement that feels good, and self-compassion. These behaviors are more meaningful indicators of health than weight alone.
Finding a Weight-Inclusive ED Therapist
If you’re looking for an eating disorder therapist, it’s important to find one who practices from a weight-inclusive perspective. Here are some questions you can ask potential providers:
Do you use a weight-inclusive or HAES-aligned approach in your practice?
How do you address weight concerns in eating disorder recovery?
What are your thoughts on intuitive eating and non-diet approaches?
The right therapist will respect your lived experience and support you in healing your relationship with food and your body—without making weight the focus.
You Deserve Compassionate, Inclusive Care
Eating disorder recovery is a deeply personal journey, and you deserve care that truly supports your well-being. A weight-inclusive approach ensures that all bodies are treated with dignity, respect, and the individualized care they deserve. If you’re looking for support, know that recovery is possible without the pressure to change your body. You are worthy of healing exactly as you are.