It strikes fear and shame in the hearts of many. It’s the prospect of having to go to the doctor for a true medical issue and knowing you’ll be asked to step on the scale before you see the doctor.
Recently a client told me she had an appointment to have a small mole removed. Still, she knew she’d be asked to weigh-in.
Many women avoid going to the doctor because of this issue. As health advocates, most of my colleages and I encourage women to make any/all visits to the doctor fit their comfort level and health needs! If weighing makes you uncomfortable, if it keeps you from getting regular check-ups, pap smears, mammograms, medical care when needed, ask yourself, “Currently, do I have any medical condition that truly requires the doctor track my weight?” If not, where is it written that you have to get weighed at the doctor’s office?
When the nurse asks me to get on the scale, I simply say, “No thank you. I don’t weigh.”
If a nurse tells you the doctor requires it (this has never happened to me), simply say, “I’ll be happy to discuss that with the doctor”. I have never had any nurse question my choice. If they want to check my height, they are welcome to do so. For that you get on the scale backwards…
If saying, “no thank you” does not feel like enough, try one of these…
“No thank you. I don’t find getting weighed to be very helpful.”
“No thank you. The scale doesn’t tell me anything I don’t already know.”
“No thank you. I’m working on emotional eating issues and getting on the scale doesn’t add anything useful to the effort.”
You are entitled to health care. Please don’t let a mechanical box make you sick!
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Ellen Shuman is a Life Coach who specializes in emotional and binge eating issues. She is the founder of A Weigh Out & Acoria Eating Disorder Treatment, Vice President of the Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA), and Co-Chair of the Academy for Eating Disorders Special Interest Group on “Health at Every Size”, ellen@aweighout.com
