What To Do If You Don’t Want To Be Weighed At The Doctor

 2023-12-05

Most doctor appointments start stepping on a scale—even if the appointment is for an earache! Although it may be standard practice, asking to take a person’s weight before a doctor’s appointment might not be helpful. 

For some people, weight may be a difficult topic, which is understandable given how much stigma there is around .org/weight-inclusivity-every-size/#:~:text=In%20a%20poll%20of%20the,weight%20bias%20by%20their%20providers.&text=It’s%20no%20wonder%20so%20many%20people%20with%20T2D%20stop%20seeing%20their%20providers.” data-wpel-link=”internal”>weight and type 2 diabetes (T2D). You may feel stressed going into your appointment after being weighed first thing—which living with diabetes is already stressful enough!

Many people living with diabetes don’t know they can simply ask to not be weighed. Here’s why you may consider opting out of being weighed and how to ask.

Isn’t losing weight the main goal?

People with T2D are constantly told to simply “lose weight” and somehow their diabetes management will get better. Although having excess weight can increase your risk of developing diabetes complications, there’s no guarantee that losing weight will improve your diabetes.

Despite extreme efforts, losing weight with T2D can be difficult. Actual helpful solutions are often overlooked when the only focus is on losing weight. 

Setting diabetes goals instead

Weight discrimination is an issue in society and even within healthcare, creating a barrier for larger-bodied individuals from getting the health care they need and deserve. 

“My doctor cut me off and told me to lose weight before I even finished describing my issue.”—BT2 community member

Because diabetes management impacts every part of you, your management plan should also have a holistic approach. 

Setting diabetes-focused goals, instead of weight-focused ones, can look like:

How do I tell my doctor I don’t want to be weighed?

Voicing your preferences to your doctor can feel uncomfortable, but is necessary to ensure you get the care you deserve. 

One way to start is to ask if you can set your diabetes management goals together during your next appointment.

Advocating for yourself and finding your voice can take time, so you can also use this “don’t weigh me” card to let providers know you would prefer to not be weighed. You can download and save it on your phone or print a copy.

Remember, having excess weight while living with type 2 diabetes does not mean you are bad at managing it. You deserve quality health care regardless of your body size!

Editor’s Note: This content was made possible with support from Lilly, an active partner of Beyond Type 2 at the time of publication.