The simple answer is no — you don’t have to be weighed at the doctor’s office. You have body autonomy, and this applies to your healthcare as well. The choice to be weighed, or not be weighed, is one that you get to make for yourself.
Stepping on a scale has become such a routine part of healthcare that it can feel like a requirement. You walk into the office, check in, sit in the waiting room, and eventually someone asks you to step on the scale before seeing your provider.
But routine does not always mean necessary.
For people in eating disorder recovery, or people in larger bodies, being weighed can sometimes cause significant distress, increase body checking or food restriction, trigger eating disorder behaviors, or pull attention away from the reason they sought care in the first place. In this blog, we’ll explore the history behind being weighed at the doctor’s office, when it might be necessary (and when it might not be), and how to advocate for yourself when it comes to weight and doctor’s appointments.
The goal is not to tell you what you should do. Your medical care should be individualized to you. Instead, this information is intended to help you understand your options and advocate for yourself. This blog does not take the place of the advice and expertise of your individual care team. If you have more in-depth questions after reading this, please reach out to us, as well as other healthcare providers, to discuss further.
Why Do Doctors Weigh You?
You might be wondering, “If I don’t have to be weighed at every appointment, then why have I always been weighed at the doctor’s office?” And that’s a fair question to ask.
The practice of getting your weight taken at every doctor’s appointment has been happening for as long as you can remember, but that doesn’t mean it’s always necessary. In the 19th century, medicine started to become more focused on measurements, statistics, and comparisons. This was closely followed by the integration of BMI into healthcare — which was never intended for this use in the first place. Even doctors at the time questioned whether this was an appropriate way to determine health (hint: it’s not), yet here we are. Over time, standardized weight tables, BMI, insurance practices, and medical routines contributed to weight becoming increasingly embedded in healthcare.
To sum it up: routine weighing didn’t begin because it was medically necessary. It happened as a result of weight stigma and the belief that weight equals health.
When Weight Is Necessary at the Doctor’s Office (and When It’s Not)
There are a few instances where weight is necessary, several more where it could be helpful but not required, and in most cases, it’s not necessary for proper, adequate care. We’ll cover a few examples of each below. A big reason people decline being weighed is because they want to avoid the discussions that follow — and it’s worth noting that even if your weight is taken, that doesn’t mean you have to see it or discuss it with your provider. More on that shortly.
Necessary:
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- Medication dosing: Some medications — including but not limited to anesthesia, chemotherapy, pediatric medications, and emergency medications — are dosed based on weight. In these cases, an accurate weight directly impacts the care you receive.
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Could be helpful:
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- Eating disorder recovery: In eating disorder treatment, weight can be an important piece of medical monitoring, particularly when someone has experienced significant weight loss, malnutrition, medical instability, or needs to weight restore. It’s imperative that weight is not the only, or the primary, measure of progress — eating disorder treatment involves looking at the whole picture, including symptoms, behaviors, vital signs, lab findings, medical stability, nutritional intake, psychological symptoms, and changes over time. If you’re in eating disorder recovery, knowing your weight can be triggering. Weights can be done blindly and monitored by your care team without being seen by you or discussed with you. The way weight is tracked as part of your individual recovery is best discussed with your own providers.
- Pregnancy: Weight changes in pregnancy are expected. Although there are “guidelines” for weight gain in pregnancy, these are also laced with weight stigma — there is no single “right” or “wrong” amount of weight gain, since everyone’s body and pregnancy are different. Monitoring weight, along with other measures, can help track fetal development and catch potential issues. Weight should not be the only measurement used to determine whether a pregnancy is “healthy” — there are many other ways to monitor and discuss your pregnancy that are separate from weight.
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Not necessary:
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- Broken foot
- Strep throat
- Routine follow-up
- Ear infection
- A rash
- Joint pain
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Medical providers often turn these issues, and others like them, into conversations about weight — often prescribing weight loss rather than offering tangible, actionable next steps. People in all different sized bodies experience these issues. They have nothing to do with your weight, and your weight is not to blame. You are worthy of adequate healthcare regardless of the size or shape of your body. If you’re seeing a doctor for one of these concerns, or others of similar nature, weight is not necessary for proper treatment.
Figuring out what’s right for you when it comes to weight and healthcare doesn’t have to be a decision you make alone. Schedule a consultation with Courage to Nourish for HAES-aligned, judgment-free support.
How to Advocate for Yourself When Declining to Be Weighed
As mentioned throughout this blog, getting weighed at the doctor’s office is not a requirement. This might bring relief, and also some anxiety — you might be wondering how to decline being weighed, what to say, or how to respond to pushback. Here are a few examples of how to talk to your doctor:
If you do not want to be weighed at all: “I’d like to not be weighed today, please.”
If you get pushback for declining to be weighed: “I understand that this is your policy, and I still decline to be weighed. Feel free to put a note in my chart that I declined.”
If you are okay being weighed but don’t want to know the number: “I’m going to step on backwards so I don’t see the number. Please don’t say it out loud or make it visible in my chart.” or “Can we do a blind weight today, please? It’s not helpful for me to see or know the number.”
If you do not want to discuss weight during your appointment: “I am here to get help for [X] concern. I am not interested in discussing my weight today.”
If a doctor begins to recommend weight loss: “Weight loss is not an option for me. Do you have any other suggestions?” or “I have an eating disorder history, so weight loss is not a helpful recommendation for me. What else do you recommend for [X] concern?” or “If someone in a smaller body presented with this same concern, what advice would you give them?”
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a doctor refuse to see me if I decline to be weighed? Generally, no — declining to be weighed is your right, and it should not prevent you from receiving care for the concern you came in for. If you experience pushback, the phrases above can help you navigate the conversation.
What is a blind weight? A blind weight is when your weight is taken and recorded for your medical chart, but not shared with or shown to you. This can be a helpful middle ground if your care team needs the number for monitoring purposes, but seeing it yourself would be distressing or unhelpful for your recovery.
Final Thoughts on Weight-Inclusive Healthcare
One of the most important shifts in weight-inclusive healthcare is recognizing that your body does not have to be evaluated through the lens of weight every time you receive medical care. You deserve healthcare that considers your whole person. You deserve to have your symptoms taken seriously regardless of your body size. You deserve to discuss your health without automatically being prescribed weight loss. And you deserve to have your eating disorder recovery protected within the healthcare system, rather than unintentionally undermined by routine practices.
Declining to be weighed is not declining healthcare. You are advocating for your needs in order to receive adequate, non-judgmental healthcare in a way that best suits you.
If you’re navigating eating disorder recovery, body image struggles, or just want support advocating for weight-inclusive healthcare, book a consultation with Courage to Nourish — we’re here to help without judgment.
Kathyrn Karukas, MS, RD, LD
Kathryn is a weight-inclusive, anti-diet eating disorder dietitian at Courage to Nourish. She specializes in working with adolescents and families, athletes, and individuals recovering from ARFID. Kathryn sees clients in person at the Columbia, Maryland office and virtually throughout Virginia, Pennsylvania, DC, and Maryland and Florida. To schedule a discovery call with Kathryn, click here.