Principles of Body-Size Diversity and Size Acceptance
- Celebrate--as a positive characteristic of the human race--the fact that human beings come in a variety of sizes and shapes.
- Value every body, whatever size or shape.
- Recognize that people of all sizes and shapes can reduce their risk of poor health by adopting a healthy lifestyle.
- Accept that there is no ideal body size, shape or weight that every individual should strive to achieve.
- Help people feel good about their bodies and about who they are. This helps motivate and maintain healthy behaviors because self-esteem and body image are strongly linked.
- Recognize that each person is responsible for taking care of his/her own body.
- Define good health as a state of physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being, not as a function of body size.
Principles of Active Living
- Enjoy and value physical activities as part of your daily lifestyle.
- Participate for the joy of feeling your body move.
- Play every day.
Principles of Pleasurable and Healthful Eating
- Honor the gift of food.
- Take pleasure in eating.
- Follow the principles of the
MyPyramid (variety, moderation, proportionality) to meet the body's energy and nutrient needs.
- Take control of eating by listening to your hunger cues.
Principles of Positive Self-Image
- Recognize and accept that healthy bodies come in a range of ages, shapes and sizes.
- Identify your strengths and abilities and build on your assets.
- Challenge your own size prejudice beliefs.
- Be critical of messages that focus on unrealistic body images as symbols of success and happiness.
- Take time for yourself every day.
*Approved 12/8/98, with slight modifications 2/2/99
and 9/17/07.
Acknowledgments: WIN Wyoming thanks and acknowledges Vitality (Canada's national health promotion program)
and The Tenets of Size Acceptance (Joanne P. Ikeda, University of California at Berkeley). The Principles of Vitality and The Tenets of Size Acceptance were adapted to make the Guiding Principles of WIN Wyoming.
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