People spout different excuses as to why they put off going to see the doctor. The one thing many people dread? Stepping on the scale.
Research shows that some people – especially women – avoid going to the doctor because weighing in triggers stress, anxiety and shame. This can be a significant barrier to getting the medical care you need. So, can you ever say “no” to being weighed? Our doctor weighs in on the subject.
Why does the doctor check your weight at each visit?
According to Chadi Berjaoui, MD, a family medicine physician with Northeast Medical Group, a weight check at the doctor’s office provides important information about your overall health.
Weight measurement can help identify early-warning signs about your health as well as track progress and manage chronic conditions.
“If your weight has dropped significantly and unintentionally in a short period of time, this may point us to evaluate concerns such as cancers or significant thyroid dysregulations. Similarly, unexplained weight gain could be attributed to heart disease,” Dr. Berjaoui said.
Major weight fluctuations can also help providers spot patients who are dealing with an eating disorder, depression or anxiety.
By keeping tabs on weight changes, providers guide patients towards appropriate lifestyle choices that may allow them to avoid medications. “If your blood pressure is elevated, we can discuss weight loss and the DASH diet, which may improve the pressure with a lesser need to rely on pharmacotherapies,” Dr. Berjaoui said.
DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, a healthy-eating plan that can help prevent or treat high blood pressure and heart disease.
And if you are taking prescription medications that may cause side effects such as weight gain or weight loss, your doctor will want to watch that as well. This is especially important among elderly patients.
If you’re pregnant, it’s crucial that your provider check your weight as part of every visit. “Gaining too much weight during pregnancy can be linked to gestational diabetes, while gaining too little has been linked to low birth weights in the child due to nutritional deficiencies,” Dr. Berjaoui said.
For pediatric patients, a weight check is a critical part of each visit to track their overall health and growth.
“A check of your weight is a form of preventative care, and preventive care is what primary care providers focus on,” Dr. Berjaoui said.
Can you refuse to get weighed by your doctor?
According to Dr. Berjaoui, you have the right to say no to a weight check. “Nobody should feel obligated to do something they do not feel comfortable doing. A good rapport between patient and doctor is crucial. Patients should feel that the doctor’s office is a safe space without judgment,” he said.
When a patient refuses a weight check, Dr. Berjaoui says he talks with them about their objections, explains why he recommends it and shares the importance of the information reflected by the numbers on the scale.
Are there other ways to check your health besides stepping on a scale? Yes, said Dr. Berjaoui. Your weight is just one piece of the overall puzzle – and all of the pieces come together to complete the picture.
“It is the provider’s responsibility to look at the overall clinical variables of each patient, which includes factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, genetics, lifestyle and chronic comorbidities,” he said.
What should you tell your doctor if you don’t want to be weighed?
“Tell us why you’re uncomfortable, and we can work with you to make changes that will make you feel more comfortable,” Dr. Berjaoui said. “If you don’t tell us, we don’t know. It’s that simple.”
