We live in a society that socializes us to believe that in order to be attractive, we need to be skinny. With that said, we are obsessed with losing weight through dieting, counting calories, exercising, starving ourselves, purging, etc. In the end, does any of it work? Do we actually lose weight and feel better about ourselves? More importantly, are we getting healthier?

In an effort to prove that diets don’t work, nutrition researchers and professors at UC-Davis came up with HAES – Health at Every Size – a study that encouraged participants to pay attention to their internal signals, especially when it came to food. Even though no one lost weight compared to those that went on diets, participants had lower levels of cholesterol and blood pressure by the end of the study. They were also less likely to suffer from depression and more likely to exercise. In the long-run, their results remained stable while those that dieted gained the weight they initially lost. Ultimately, HAES participants were healthier AND happier. 

Losing weight might make you feel better about yourself but being confident is your golden ticket to happiness.