What is the difference between intuitive eating and other nondiet approaches?

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    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    Intuitive eating (IE), Health at Every Size (HAES), and mindful eating share common principles but differ in focus. HAES promotes health-supportive behaviors for all body sizes, IE emphasizes listening to the body's signals to foster a positive relationship with food, and mindful eating encourages full awareness and enjoyment of the eating experience.

    IE and other nondieting approaches, such as the health at every size (HAES) approach and mindful eating, share many common components. However, they differ in their emphasis on certain aspects. HAES is both a treatment approach and social justice movement that promotes health-supportive behaviors and access to resources for people of all sizes while acknowledging that health is not determined solely by body weight.[1] IE emphasizes developing a healthy and positive relationship with food by listening to the body’s signals. In contrast, mindful eating involves being fully present and aware of the act of eating, savoring the taste and texture of food, and eating at a slower pace without any distractions.[2]