Wellness, as defined by the National Wellness Institute, is a multidimensional construct including physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, and occupational dimensions. Contemporary wellness culture, however, often reduces this to dietary restriction, high-intensity exercise, and "biohacking." This creates:
Developed by dietitians Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch, IE rejects external diet rules. Instead, you learn to listen to your body’s internal cues: Wellness, as defined by the National Wellness Institute,
The result: Reduced binge eating and improved psychological well-being, independent of weight change. The result: Reduced binge eating and improved psychological
Emerging evidence supports a reconciliation model, primarily through Health at Every Size (HAES) . HAES, developed by Dr. Lindo Bacon, operationalizes body positivity into five principles: developed by Dr. Lindo Bacon
| Traditional Wellness | Inclusive Wellness (Body Positive) | | :--- | :--- | | Weight loss as primary goal | Weight-neutral health promotion | | Calorie counting & restriction | Intuitive eating (hunger/fullness cues) | | Exercise for compensation/punishment | Joyful movement for function and pleasure | | BMI as health metric | Biopsychosocial metrics (BP, lipids, mood, sleep) | | Individual blame for health status | Structural critique + compassionate self-care |
Intuitive Eating (IE) serves as a practical bridge. IE—rejecting the diet mentality, honoring hunger, making peace with food, and respecting the body—has been empirically linked to improved psychological health, reduced disordered eating, and stable or improved metabolic markers, irrespective of weight change (Tribole & Resch, 2012).
Trauma-informed wellness further aligns with body positivity. Many chronic health conditions and eating disorders are rooted in trauma. A body-positive wellness approach prioritizes safety, choice, and collaboration, rejecting "no pain, no gain" narratives.