WIA Provider Criteria

Starting in 2024, all providers listed on the WIA directory must agree to adhere to this specific criteria to ensure safety for clients and providers. Our criteria will help both providers and clients know what to expect when someone becomes listed on the directory.

All listed providers have agreed to enact the following criteria. Please keep in mind we are a grassroots organization, and we do not have a regulatory body to monitor each provider. If you have concerns about a listed provider, please contact us.

We want to thank Allison Tunis, Lauren Groves, and Take A Seat Edmonton for helping us build a robust set of criteria. As leaders in the movement of Body and Fat Liberation, we feel extra honoured! This is based on a project created by Allison and Lauren. 

All providers listed on the WIA directory adhere to the guidelines below.

1. Providers will absolutely not promote weight loss. WIA providers will acknowledge and respect a client's motivation for weight loss, while explicitly not endorsing it.
2. Are culturally competent and aware of issues surround weight stigma, as well as being aware of or active in liberation and advocacy movements.
3. WIA providers have relevant education, training or certification in anti- oppression related fields, and fat liberation. This includes but is not limited to HAES, body trust, etc. 
4. Providers are fat, and/or have fat people in their practice, and/or are allies to fat people and fat liberation.
5. Have policies and frameworks in place for dealing with anti-fat bias if it occurs.
6. Keep up to date with new and relevant material related to weight stigma, and anti-fat bias, as well as body and fat liberation activism, research and discussions in the health and wellness sphere and beyond.
7. Are dedicated to making their space as safe and accessible for fat people within their control.
8. Use diverse models in their media and marketing.
9. Any new providers onboarded onto one's practice must agree to the WIA criteria listed above. Providers understand that if new hires do not agree, that they may be taken off the directory for safety reasons.

Starting in 2024, we are introducing new criteria to list spaces as accessible for fat people. This is an ongoing project. To be listed as fat accessible in physical spaces, providers must adhere to the criteria listed below.

1. Seating, beds, and other equipment can hold up to 500 pounds.
2. If clothing is required, items provided must fit up to a 6x.
3. Doors are wide enough to fit a wheelchair or other mobility aids. 
4. Room to maneuver. Ensuring hallway and spaces have ample space for people to pass through and by objects, furniture and people.
5. Aware of accessibility standards and are dedicated to upholding accessibility in ways that are possible in their space.