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Trademark Guidelines

ASDAH Guidelines for Health at Every Size® (HAES) Trademark Use

Since 2011 ASDAH has held the Health at Every Size® (HAES) trademark. This stewardship has been an effort to protect the community-driven, grassroots development of the Health at Every Size® framework of care from the weight loss industry, and more recently, the co-opting of the principles by those who are not most affected by medical fatphobia.

The trademark guidelines, in addition to the Health at Every Size® Principles and curriculum, have not been updated for nearly 10 years. It is a top priority of ASDAH’s current leadership team to update the principles and curriculum. As we approach this endeavor, it has become clear that the trademark guidelines, as written in the past, were problematic. They ignored the wisdom of our Black, fat, and disabled ancestors and peers. They have not evolved with new knowledge and important critiques from those most impacted by fatphobia. They have also not protected Health at Every Size® from thin-washing and thin- and white-centering. 

The hope that the Health at Every Size® Principles and Framework of Care would continue to be community-centered through a laissez-faire approach has only allowed those with the most privilege to gain huge followings and capitalize off of a diluted and sometimes harmful version of what Health at Every Size® could actually offer: health equity for those most impacted by fatphobia. Moving to center Health at Every Size® principles into more liberatory frameworks requires a reining in of the misuse of Health at Every Size®.

Those in Health at Every Size® spaces, especially white providers, are facing a reckoning. We are evolving through a stage mirrored by white feminism and white queer movements. Fat issues are not only white fat issues. Black fat issues are not the same as or less important than white fat issues. And yet, fracturing fat liberation away from Black liberation movements has made room for only some white fat folks. Health at Every Size® in particular has only made room for thin white folks. We aim to take firm action countering the harmful ways Health at Every Size® has been and is currently being used by some and thus are asking those who use the term Health at Every Size® (HAES) to request permission before using or continuing to use these terms.

We believe in community-centered approaches, but only those that acknowledge the inherent power and privilege at play, and constantly work to uplift the experiences of those most impacted by anti-fat bias in healthcare. Community-led approaches only work when the community is at least as representative of the populations served as the general population. ASDAH Membership as of 2021 was only 51% fat (compared with 74% of the general US population) and less than 10% were People of Color (compared with 45% of the US population and 84% of the global population). 

Fat, Black, disabled, and transgender folks must lead the way. Liberation led by Black, fat women will not leave anyone behind, as white feminism continually does. As we steward the Health at Every Size® Principles into a more radically inclusive and liberatory evolution, we ask for those who espouse Health at Every Size® to be in right relationship with us by adhering to the following Health at Every Size® (HAES) trademark guidelines:

Guidelines

These guidelines have been prepared to inform you of the proper use of the trademark(s), including without limitation service marks, which are the property of the Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH). A trademark has been granted to ASDAH for Health At Every Size® (HAES) services and materials.

A trademark is both a symbol of the trademark owner’s high standards and an assurance of the consistent quality of the product or service being offered under the mark. You may use the Health at Every Size® trademark with prior written permission from ASDAH and when in compliance with our guidelines below. To request permission, fill out the form below.

Trademarks are valuable intellectual property, and protecting ASDAH’s trademarks is beneficial because:

  • Using the trademark with permission assures that all Health At Every Size® (HAES) services/materials adhere to the Health at Every Size® principles.
  • The strength of our trademarks grows with use.
  • It helps protect Health At Every Size® distinctiveness.
 

The following rules must therefore be followed when referring to the ASDAH trademarks in news articles, photo captions, advertising, literature, correspondence, and the like.

  1. You must use the symbol ® every time the Health At Every Size® (HAES) phrase is used.
  2. Use the trademark only as an adjective (for example: Health At Every Size® framework, Health At Every Size® research, Health at Every Size® principles, etc.), never as a noun or verb, and never use in the plural or possessive form.
  3. Use a generic term following the trademark. (See 2 above for examples).
  4. ASDAH’s Trademark Notice must be prominently displayed on all publications utilizing the trademarked term/service: “Health At Every Size® (HAES) is the registered trademark of the Association for Size Diversity and Health and used with permission.”
  5. In advertising copy, notice of trademark rights may be provided in a footnote format e.g., by placing an asterisk adjacent to the Health At Every Size® phrase, and placing the notice listed above in Section d at the bottom of the page on which the asterisk appears.
  6. Don’t display the Health At Every Size® trademark in any manner that can be reasonably interpreted to suggest editorial content has been authored by, or represents the view or opinions of ASDAH or the ASDAH Board of Directors. This includes but is not limited to using Health at Every Size® as part or all of a business or organization name, social media handles and names including group names, the title of written works and materials, the title of presentations, webinars, events, and the like.
  7. If you see what you consider might be unauthorized use of our trademark, or elements thereof, please alert ASDAH.
 

Health at Every Size® (HAES) Trademark Use Permission Form

Name *
Pronouns
Email *
Business or Organization Name (if applicable)
This could be the business or organization you own or where you work.
How do you plan on using the health at Every Size® (HAES) trademark? *

individual use request

What is your website? Include http:// in your website link. *
You can include a domain you own and manage or you can link to your profile on your organization's website. If you don't have a website, you may link to a social media account (this option is primarily for those in countries where websites are cost-prohibitive).

If you are requesting to use Health at Every Size® (HAES) on your social media channels (in your bio or in posts), include your handles below.

Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
TikTok
LinkedIn
Other (specify which channel & include your handle)

Vetting Information

Select the option or options that best match your opinion. This information is to determine alignment with the Health at Every Size® Principles and Framework of Care.

Philosophy of Care *
Describe your philosophy of care. In other words, how do you approach your work and patients? How do you work with your patients? What is your approach to health? What is your approach to care/healthcare? This is also the area to expand upon your theoretical lenses and frameworks and additional populations served listed earlier. Other questions to consider for this section are: What does being a Health at Every Size® Provider mean to you? Why do you practice from a Health at Every Size® perspective? Why is Health at Every Size® Care important to you? How do you specifically apply the Health at Every Size® Framework of Care to your work? This section should be approximately 1-3 paragraphs (minimum of 500 up to a maximum of 1500 characters).
Weight is mostly determined by individual behaviors. *
In most cases, the most important thing a higher weight person can do for their physical health is to lose weight/attain a ‘healthy’ BMI. *
A person’s weight is a significant contributor to their current or future health status. *
It is important to address a patient's BMI that's out of range for their height and weight during medical appointments. *
Nurses or other staff should refrain from weighing patients without consent and without medically-necessary reasons. *
Fat people should eat well and be physically active often to take care of their health. *
Health can be summed up as the absence of disease. *
Weight loss is one safe and effective way fat people can improve their health outcomes. *
My role as a healthcare provider is to be the expert on what will cause my patient to become healthier. *
Health is mostly determined by factors outside an individual’s control. *
It is important to learn about the intersections of oppression and how they impact the health and wellbeing of my patients. *
An individual’s weight has a larger impact on their health and health outcomes than weight bias. *
Everyone is affected by fatphobia equally. *
While many people labeled ‘overweight’ and ‘obese’ are not inherently unhealthy, there is a weight at which people are inherently unhealthy. *
Race or ethnicity have no bearing on the quality of care patients receive in our current medical systems. *
Fat, Black patients and other fat patients of color have the same access to care as anyone else. *
Patients who follow my recommendations for changes that result in weight loss are stepping up and taking responsibility for their choices. *
Regardless of size or weight, all people should work to improve their healthy habits. *
Most people who stick to a food and/or movement plan typically: *
Which of the following are effective interventions for a high weight person to attain a normal BMI and keep the weight off for more than 5 years? *
Thin people have better health outcomes because they: *
My role as a healthcare provider is to: *
How do you advocate for patients when you engage with harmful systems within the healthcare system? For example, how are you addressing anti-fat bias with your co-workers and peers? How are you working to dismantle oppressive systems at your workplace and/or with other healthcare systems you engage with? *
Your response should be between 100 and 500 characters.
How have you and how do you continue to learn about oppressive systems affecting your patients (especially in regards to identities you don’t personally hold)? *
Your response should be between 100 and 500 characters.
How do you support patients in their own self-advocacy in the healthcare system? *
Your response should be between 100 and 500 characters.

Organizational Use

What is your organizational website? *
How are the Health at Every Size® Principles and Framework of Care integrated into your organization's work? *
Your response should be between 500 and 1500 characters.
What staff development, training, and staff audits/reviews support the ongoing commitment to the Health at Every Size® Principles and Framework of Care? *
Your response should be between 500 and 1500 characters.
Include any relevant attachments such as policies and procedures or recent staff development opportunities. (.pdf, .jpg, .png, and .mp4 files accepted)
Maximum file size: 100 MB
Up to ten files allowed. For additional or larger files, you can share as a link via private youtube video or google drive or dropbox link.
If you have any additional links to content (including files too big to share above), include links here to relevant websites, recordings, etc.

educational, presentations, workshops, and book use

We are currently only considering requests for brief mentions of Health at Every Size®, such as a resource for learning more with a link to our website, while we are in the process of revising the principles and framework of care. We are not approving any use of the full principles in educational materials, books, courses, presentations, and the like.

To submit a request for use in educational materials, books, courses, presentations, and the like, please include all mentions of Health at Every Size® and any additional context to understand how the trademark is being used.

Include any relevant attachments such as policies and procedures or recent staff development opportunities (PDF, JPEG, PNG, mp4 files accepted)
Maximum file size: 100 MB
Up to ten files allowed. For additional or larger files, you can share as a link via private youtube video or google drive or dropbox link.
If you have any additional links to content (including files too big to share above), include links here to relevant websites, recordings, etc.

Research Use

Briefly describe your research questions and design: *
Your response should be between 500 and 1500 characters.
If you have a research proposal (e.g. an IRB application), please include it as a PDF.
Maximum file size: 100 MB
Up to four files allowed. For additional or larger files, you can share as a link via private youtube video or google drive or dropbox link.
If you have any additional links to content (including files too big to share above), include relevant links here.

Other Use

Describe how you plan on using the Health at Every Size® (HAES) trademark? *
Your response should be between 500 and 1500 characters.
Include any relevant links to websites, recordings, etc.
Include any relevant attachments (PDF, JPEG, PNG, mp4 files accepted)
Maximum file size: 100 MB
Up to ten files allowed. For additional or larger files, you can share as a link via private youtube video or google drive or dropbox link.
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