A Letter to Our Community
We at SD Nutrition Group were both saddened and angered to learn of the recent developments involving Lindo Bacon and the dismissal of marginalized people and their contributions and experiences within the HAES space, most recently Marquisele Mercedes (Mikey), Lindley Ashline, Veronica Garnett, and The Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH) board. As thin, white privileged providers, we want to acknowledge that white supremacy shows up in our interactions with oppressed individuals and communities. It is through continued education, advocacy, and reflection that we hope to no longer perpetuate and be accomplices to this harm.
Health At Every Size (HAES)™ is not a book. HAES was developed by fat activists and is a trademarked social justice movement to prevent it from being co-opted by diet culture, fitness & health industries. Lindo Bacon wrote a book called Health At Every Size that allowed them to be mistaken for and positioned as a prominent leader within the movement. If we as providers in this space are to live out the HAES principles, we must create space for and uplift the voices of the body liberation movement- the voices that are too often silenced by white supremacy and thin privilege.
There is so much controversy within the health & wellness, medical, & nutrition fields. We want to take the time to acknowledge our own privilege and the greater ways in which our profession of dietetics as a whole has caused harm to those in marginalized groups through discrimination, anti-fatness, and lack of access to respectful care, among many other injustices. Dietetics is overwhelmingly comprised of thin, white women with historical roots in eugenics and white supremacy. Too often, those in marginalized groups are unable to find providers they relate to and identify with.
There is so much need for change in our society and in the field of nutrition. In an effort to move towards this change, we want to open up a space to have these difficult conversations. We invite you to join us for a Round Table Discussion on Wednesday 3/23 from 9:45-10:30am PST to talk about Health At Every Size, diversity and inclusivity in dietetics, and how we at SD Nutrition Group can change. We accept any input and feedback from you about how we as a practice can do better. If you can’t make it to our round table, we welcome feedback to our email at hello@sdnutritiongroup.com. We are extremely grateful to those who have been willing and continue to share their own experiences and stories. We will continue to highlight stories of those in marginalized communities.
Zoom Link for Round Table:
https://zoom.us/j/93825758873?pwd=WnZvZTYxdVcvaUs1ZFdaeUJUdlA3dz09
We acknowledge that this is only a starting place and not a solution. We plan to continue to evaluate our own practices in this field, sit in the discomfort of learning and unlearning, and uplift the voices of those who have been silenced. We are working to take actionable steps to be better informed, more inclusive, & supportive providers. The actions we are committed to at this time include:
Maintaining membership with ASDAH.
Hiring diversity coaches.
Developing a scholarship/compensation program for BIPOC dietetic interns & other BIPOC individuals interested in working with us.
Financial support for marginalized peoples in the HAES space.
Working within the San Diego community to identify what resources are available to help support meaningful change.
We will continue to evaluate our own practices and the ways that we can actively do better, and live out our commitment to learning and growth.
With gratitude,
The SD Nutrition Group Team