Helping clients to reduce their weight permanently is notoriously difficult. Traditional weight focused approaches maintain that weight loss is possible for most people in the long term, and that weight loss will lead to similar health outcomes seen in those people who have never struggled with their weight. On the contrary, the vast majority of dieters regain lost weight, and often more so, following lifestyle modification regimes. Furthermore, many dieters develop disordered relationships with food and exercise following such interventions. Low self-esteem and a sense of hopelessness are frequently reported by chronic dieters as they experience repeated cycles of weight loss and regain. Body shame and withdrawal from life activities are common responses to being dissatisfied with one's weight and shape.  

The non-diet approach has been developed in response to such difficulties, and is increasingly being incorporated into clinical practice. Several randomised controlled trials have been conducted using the non-diet approach, with promising results. Importantly, the non-diet approach appears to help support people to build lasting health behaviours without the accompanying psychological disturbances observed in weight focussed approaches. This workshop introduces participants to the five core principles of the non-dieting approach to weight management which are self-compassion, mindful eating and letting go of food rules, body respect, joyful movement and non-diet nutrition. It examines the psychological harm which can come from weight focussed approaches and, through small group exercises, role plays and whole-group discussion, explores applications of the non-diet approach in clinical practice. 

At the conclusion of the workshop, participants should understand the:

• Development, principles, practices and applications of The Health at Every Size (HAES)® movement underpinning the non-diet approach as an alternative paradigm to working within the weight focused approach to health management
• Potential harm engendered by weight focussed approaches including weight bias and stigma
• Core principles of self-reflection and self-compassion, including scoring and interpretation of the self-compassion scale
• Teaching of hunger-fullness awareness and mindful eating techniques
• Techniques to improve body image
• Techniques to improve people’s relationship with exercise
• Appropriate strategies, worksheet tools and assessment techniques to use with individual clients

Please note that this workshop was formerly called 'Working with Weight Concern'.

Both the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) now call for a 'health gain' approach rather than a 'weight loss' approach for people with a BMI greater than 30kg/m2. Their recent position statements outline the caustic effects of weight bias and stigma in medical encounters and the low likelihood of sustained behavioural weight loss for the majority of patients. Weight inclusive practice involves making medical encounters welcoming for people of all shapes and sizes, understanding how stigma and bias may affect medical practice and the behaviour of larger-bodied clients, and formulating weight-neutral management and treatment plans.

This one-day, live, online course facilitated by Dr Fiona Willer (AdvAPD, PhD) will strengthen your understanding of weight inclusive practice, including the Health at Every Size (HAES) Principles, weight science, weight stigma and the non-diet approach. Using a participatory model, attendees will identify areas of concern in their own practice setting and develop strategies to move towards weight inclusivity, weight neutral practice and a 'body safe' environment for patients, staff and colleagues.

This half day, live, online course for health professionals is designed to teach you about weight bias and stigma, and how they impact the healthcare system and healthcare practice in Australia. Common myths about weight management will be unpacked and weight inclusive practice (for example using Health at Every Size Principles or Non-Diet Approaches) will be introduced. Participants will be supported to develop a plan to reduce weight stigmatisation in their work.