Guilty as charged

The Dreaded Weigh-In -  New York Times Blog.

University of Pennsylvania researchers say they believe some women may be avoiding the doctor just to avoid being weighed in front of other people.

I haven't been to a doctor in a long time, longer than I'm willing to admit here out of pure embarrassment. I'm going to blame my pediatrician who tried to shame me into a diet of skim milk and lettuce before I had even reached puberty. But I'm an adult now and I should know better and stand up for myself. Fear and shame shouldn't be what kills me someday.

Comments

[Tisha_]

I guess I am just really lucky because I've never had a doctor make a big deal about my weight. It's a shame that so many have.

[joan]

I've only had one doctor bitch and moan at me about losing weight, and this was back when I was a size 14. I'm now an 18/20 and so far so good. I had the flu earlier this month and went to the doctor and they didn't even weigh me.

[Valerie]

If you go to the doctor for the flu, cold, eye problem,... I don't know what! lol I don't see why they'd have to weigh you. They never weigh you here (=Belgium) unless it is related to the disease.

[Toni]

I've just started saying, "I'd rather not be weighed", and no nurse has ever even flinched. It just isn't relevant to my allergies, or whatever else I'm there for. Obviously, if there's a medication dose dependent on my weight, etc., I'd have no problem. Any doctor that would insist on your getting weighed, for something unrelated, is not one you need to see again.

[Carrie]

For years I avoided the doctor, despite times when I probably should have seen one, I totally understand. Around the time when I thought birth control was necessary, I figured it was time to tackle the issue head on and get over my fear (I too have vivid memories of my chuldhood doctor, he told my mother that I would hit 300 lbs by the age of 13 if I kept gaining weight-- I was 5!!!!). I tried 3 doctors before finding my current one. When I was talking with her in my initial consult, I said that I knew that my weight is not considered normal but that I believed I was healthy so it wasn't an issue for me. She said, ok, we don't have to weigh you but I'd like to run blood tests as part of a general assessment and to confirm your health. I said no prob and the results came back fine, everything was normal (and continues to be). I think the keys are to be confident and to be comfortable trying a few doctors before finding one that you click with. It can be tough finding doctors that accept new patients, but there are some out there...

[Elle]

I just went to the doctor, and think about this before every visit. I actually found it kind of refreshing to know how much I weigh. It's a number; it doesn't make me heavier or skinner to know what it actually is. I've been in a situation where I've closed my eyes or turned around on the scale. I just feel like at the doctor's office, there are many more embarrassing things they could do to you. But I say if you really don't want to know, just don't get weighed.

[MoxieDO]

I read your blog all the time and I love it!! As a future physician, and an obese one at that, I completely understand the fear of the "weigh in" you have to face everytime you visit the doc. There are other reasons that they weigh you that are non-medically related, but I'll not get into that because it will make me rant about my complete hate of insurance companies and how they have destroyed the US health system for profit. Anyways, I encourage anyone, regardless of this issue to visit your doc regularly. For my own health I have started losing weight, but I know I will never be anything smaller than a 12 or 14 and I'm ok w/ that. Because I have had a weight struggle for my entire life, I understand the disappointments and struggles of dealing w/ obesity. Unfortunately many of my colleagues have never had this problem and do not realize the struggle of trying to lose weight. We as physicians are taught that being overweight is a risk factor for so many diseases, even though there are many other things that affect disease outcome. However, for many, its just easier to zone in on your weight as a problem because addressing other issues may just be too complicated. To them, losing weight is a simple solution to a problem, and in truth, sometimes it is. I'm not defending any of them, because believe me I have encountered many past and future physicians that are jerks on the weight issue, but dont take their problem w/ your weight personally or let their opinion affect your health. Find a doc you love and see them regularly. If you are healthy and love yourself the way you are, then dont change.

P.S. dont smoke, for realz ya'll!

[leendadll]

You shouldn't fear a number - nor anyone else seeing that number!! If a doc tries to give you crap for it (I'm talking beyond a reasonable mention of realistic health concerns), find another doctor.