From: avery@netcom.com (Avery Ray Colter)
Subject: AHELP Preliminary Posting
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 92 23:37:47 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Followup-To: poster
Keywords: Fat Health Medicine Adiposity

   Today I received the preliminary mailing from Joseph McVoy, PhD,
of the Eating Disorders unit of St. Albans Psychiatric Hospital
in Radford, VA.

   Dr. McVoy is starting up AHELP: The Association for the
Health Enrichment of Large Persons. Following is a copy of
the organizational philosophy of AHELP.

-----

   AHELP is a professional organization which represents members of
all medical, mental health, health education, and scientific research
disciplines who serve men and women who are labeled fat or obese by
themselves, society, or the medical community. The organization represents
a wide variety of beliefs but does have a basic philosophy:

  We believe that large men and women are as entitled to healthy,
fulfilled lives as other people and are dedicated to providing them with
support, education, therapy, and medical care to achieve this aim. We
feel that the societal prejudice against fat people and the use of weight
loss through dieting have the most harmful effects. Consequently, we
actively oppose fat-ism within both our profession and our society, and
we are opposed to the use of food restriction for weight loss. We are
aware that it is difficult for professionals to make the transition to
this new paradigm and welcome them into our organization while they are
still attempting to share our beliefs. We are also aware that there
are time in very limited circumstances where weight reduction is essential
to protect someone from imminent life risk or permanent physical damage.
In such cases, we feel that such weight loss is necessary but should
be limited to that amount which would restore one's health.

   As an organization we are dedicated to promoting

   1. Professional exchange that advances acceptance and support
      in the treatment of fat people.

   2. Research that furthers the understanding of factors which both
      enhance and undermine the health of fat men and women.

   3. Professional and societal acceptance of fat men and women.

   4. Professional and societal education about the inappropriateness
      and dangers of weight reduction dieting.

   The organization will provide to its members

   1. An annual professional conference to further professional exchange
      and education.

   2. A quarterly newsletter which will publish articles about innovative
      clinical treatement, organizational business, and information
      of interest to its members.

   3. Professional education in the form of resource materials such
      as books, audiotapes, and seminars.

   4. A national speakers' bureau to provide speakers to educate both
      the lay and professional public nationally.

   5. Professional training through workshops and videotapes.

   6. Public education through an organizational resource center which
      will provide pamphlets, books, audio and videotapes to both
      individuals and organizations.

   7. A national referral service to assist professionals and individuals
      in selecting a physician, dietician, counselor, or fitness program
      that is fat-accepting and shares the AHELP philosophy.

   8. An annual research award to promote innovative research congruent
      with the organization's philosophy.

   9. Assistance through news releases to individual members in becoming
      known in their local community.

------

   As of my phone conversation with Dr. McVoy last week, there are plans
for the second national conference of this new organization to be held
at the Miyako Hotel in San Francisco's Japantown, on May 14-16, 1993.

   All practicing or studying in the medical, psychological, therapeutic,
or other health fields are encouraged to make contact with Dr McVoy at
the following address:

Joe McVoy, PhD
c/o St Albans Psychiatric Hospital
P.O. Box 3608
Radford, VA 24143
re: AHELP

   Those who desire phone contact may find themselves playing phone tag
just a bit, but the contact numbers are.

(800) 368-3468 outside Virginia
(800) 572-3120 inside Virginia

   More information will be relayed as received.
I'll be keeping a file of names and net.addresses of those who respond
to this relay in e-mail expressing interest in joining or attending the
conference next spring.

-- 
Avery Ray Colter ("Elfcat") - 	avery@netcom.netcom.com (IP 192.100.81.100)
(510) 656-1902          	"A R Colter" on America Online
"Heaviness is the root of lightness; calmness is the controller of haste"
Newsgroups: sci.med