6 Best Support Organizations for Health at Every Size

While body positivity and acceptance have become more mainstream, our society admittedly has a long way to go. Weight-biased messaging and portrayals of an ideal body are pervasive across media and advertising — and even our friends and family members (including people in the health and wellness space) can inadvertently discriminate against large bodies.

About 1 in 3 people surveyed in the Everyday Health special report “Weight Loss Reframed” have experienced shame for their weight from someone close to them. And most responded that weight affected their self-image — and that reaching a goal or “normal” weight would increase their happiness.

That’s why support organizations that promote body positivity and embrace body diversity are so important. Not only do these groups help shift the narratives around body size discrimination and diet culture — many also offer connections with like-minded individuals, as well as services, education, and tools for better well-being.

Such support is important for anyone, “but especially people who live in large bodies, women, girls, and anyone who lacks the resources and knowledge to fully embody body neutrality or positivity and true self-love,” says Lisa N. Folden, a doctor of physical therapy, a National Academy of Sports Medicine–certified behavior change specialist, an anti-diet health and body image coach, and the owner of Healthy Phit Physical Therapy and Wellness Consultants in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Here are six support organizations for health at every size that you may want to consider incorporating into your health and wellness journey.

Association for Size Diversity and Health

Founded in 2003, the Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH) is a nonprofit organization and the steward of the Health at Every Size (HAES) principle, which is a weight-inclusive healthcare model.

ASDAH’s mission is to educate and advocate for antidiscrimination against body weight. Not only does the ASDAH work to eliminate body shaming and discrimination — it also opposes the body mass index (BMI), a measurement based on body weight and height, as a measurement of health. Learn more about this movement through the organization’s Abolish the BMI Coalition.

Paid members of ASDAH can connect with other members and businesses worldwide. If you’re looking for a dietitian, counselor, or other healthcare provider who follows HAES principles, ASDAH offers a directory where you can browse by expert type and location. Note: ASDAH owns the trademark to Health at Every Size.

The Body Positive

Since its founding in 1996, The Body Positive has worked to create a community of body positivity and to fight body-shaming messages. For the past two decades, the organization has founded multiple body positivity programs in schools, as well as in community and clinician settings.

On an individual level, you can enroll in the organization’s at-home fundamentals course to learn how to overcome negative body image perceptions. Or consider The Body Positive Institute’s courses for individuals, educators, and clinicians. In addition to educational opportunities, the organization is active on its blog and social media platforms with the latest news and research.

National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance

Focused on promoting equality at every size, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) is a social justice organization that’s been promoting inclusion and acceptance of all body sizes since the 1970s. Its diverse and multigenerational membership is divided into chapters across the country. And its efforts go beyond social messaging: NAAFA is active in regional and national legislation that seeks to outlaw discrimination against body size through its Campaign for Size Freedom, which you can get involved in.

NAAFA hosts free online events and virtual get-togethers, offers volunteer opportunities, and posts helpful information on its blog and Instagram account, @naafaofficial.

Body Empowerment Project

Established in 2021 by two women who worked on eating disorder awareness at the University of Pennsylvania, the Body Empowerment Project is a nonprofit organization aimed at promoting body positivity and decreasing the risk of eating disorders as early in life as possible. The group works specifically with adolescents, who are often being exposed to body shaming, diet culture, and messages of body “perfection” for the first time.

On top of this, the Body Empowerment Project targets its work in communities that don’t have access to preventive healthcare or treatments. It offers after-school programs for middle and high school students in the Philadelphia area, university-level chapters to promote body positivity and fight against anti-fat discrimination, and professional training for corporations, healthcare workers, and individuals.

SeekHer Foundation

With a goal of empowering women to bridge the gender gap in mental health, the SeekHer Foundation focuses on issues of body image, as well as diversity, inclusion, and self-advocacy. The organization’s work in body image addresses startling statistics, such as its report that 90 percent of women are not happy with their bodies.

To help change this, the SeekHer Foundation raises money to support school programs that teach body positivity and provides body-inclusive trainings for healthcare practitioners. On an individual level, it offers free online workshops and events, as well as a self-care quiz that can give you insight into your well-being and relationship with your body.

Center for Body Trust

The Center for Body Trust was established in 2005 by two women in the nutrition and mental health fields, both of whom were frustrated with the harmful advice and recommendations often given to their clients. The organization not only trains professionals but also seeks to educate everyday people, who can participate in virtual educational sessions and courses that aim to help people reclaim their trust in their body.

The organization also hosts The Body Trust Podcast, which promotes body reclamation and offers insights and stories that can help you unlearn internalized lessons around weight stigma and bias.