Clients often present with weight concerns and related distress (e.g., depression, eating disorders, body image concerns, stigma) which are not effectively treated with behavioral weight loss. Self-acceptance-based treatments are emerging to enhance clients' mental and physical health without focusing on weight loss. In this workshop, participants will learn about the need for and evidence supporting acceptance-based approaches to weight concerns, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Health At Every Size (HAES®), as well as an integrative psychotherapy, Accept Yourself! which combines ACT and HAES to enhance the mental and physical health of psychologically distressed obese women. Original webcast date: September 21, 2018.

Learning Objectives

1. Challenge stereotypes about current research on behavioral weight loss interventions, healthful eating approaches, and the health effects of obesity.

2. Summarize current research on anti-fat stigma and discrimination, and provide a rationale for a non-weight-loss approach to health for weight-concerned clients.

3. Describe and apply non-weight-loss self-acceptance approaches to mental and physical wellness and weight management for clients with weight concerns.