The Scale in a Doctor's Office

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marmarlaw
marmarlaw Posts: 19
in Health and Weight Loss
Why, oh why does the doctor office scale show me weigh more at their office than at home?
Today I weighed before I went and there was a 2.2 lb increase.
:mad:
«13

Replies

  • Flab2fitfi
    Flab2fitfi Posts: 1,349 Member
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    it might depend on time of day and also what you are wearing.
  • Shakila87
    Shakila87 Posts: 70
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    I went the other day and mine did the same thing. Don't trip they don't calibrate those things...well some don't
  • mcpherson4
    mcpherson4 Posts: 287 Member
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    they are of the debil.
  • jenniferether
    jenniferether Posts: 15
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    Well, if you normally weigh yourself naked, it could just be the weight of your clothes at the doctor's office adding the extra pounds.
  • ebenso1
    ebenso1 Posts: 39 Member
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    I work in a doctors office. My patients always say that our scale weighs about 4lbs heavier. My only explanation is...you probably weigh in at home before you eat or drink anything and you are probably naked. At our office you may have eaten or drank coffee or water and you are dressed. Clothes weigh more than you think. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Just go off of what your home scale says since that is the one you weighed in on in the beginning.
  • purpleroses1021
    purpleroses1021 Posts: 46 Member
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    I don't think they get calibrated often enough. My husband and I went a few months ago and the scale at the Dr. office was about ten pounds heavier for both of us.
  • Beth_Gorman
    Beth_Gorman Posts: 35 Member
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    When you weigh yourself first thing in the morning your always lighter. Getting dressed and drinking or eating will cause your weight to fluctuate. Scales also can be different. Are you using the same type of scale as the doctor office? Don’t let it get you down because two pounds don’t make a big difference. I lost two pounds overnight.
  • Guitarjon
    Guitarjon Posts: 204 Member
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    I weigh my self without any cloths and clothing can easily add on a few pounds. As long as you weight less the last time you were on the same doctors scales I wouldn't threat.

    :)
  • JSheehy1965
    JSheehy1965 Posts: 404
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    I had the opposite - I went to the doc's and I was 2lb lighter than at home! Result!
  • McBully4
    McBully4 Posts: 1,270 Member
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    my cardiologist's scale is a good 10lbs off.
  • underw64
    underw64 Posts: 26 Member
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    Clothes + anything you eat/drink before visiting office = weight gain by the time you get there, especially if you're like me and weigh yourself first thing in the morning, after going to the bathroom but right before hopping in the shower :)
  • rmalford
    rmalford Posts: 58
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    I have to assume the beam balance is more accurate. Also they frown on my stripping naked in the hallway :( I certainly trust the change in weight; I have been careful to wear the same boots etc. I have also changed scales recently at home, and they were off by about 5#.

    The spring balance scales and the electronic strain gauge scales are necessarily built cheaply and are likely inaccurate in the absolute values but probably fairly accurate for the changes in weight.
  • bahnscutie
    bahnscutie Posts: 17 Member
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    How funny! Because mine was exactly 2.2 lbs increase as well. I don't let it get to me because I trust ONLY my scale. :smile:
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
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    They don't care. THey are looking for trends, big changes. The one in my Doc's office, they haven't had calibrated in years. Plus, I weigh myself naked, I'm always fully clothed with shoes on in the DR office, so I usually weigh about 10lbs more there than in real life. It doesn't matter at all.

    If it was important, they would have you strip. They don't care.
  • marmarlaw
    marmarlaw Posts: 19
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    Thanks everyone! Yes, I did weigh sans clothing at home but had nothing to eat or drink... my guess is, it is a combination of clothes/calibration.

    It is just so annoying.

    The end result was still the same. I was down overall 11 lbs according to her calculations and she was pleased as punch.... I was just annoyed that it should have been down 13! :)
  • amicodiablo
    amicodiablo Posts: 5
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    A lot of doctors' offices unfortunately do not get their scales recalibrated often enough. I would stick to your home scale and weigh at the same time everyday for more accurate results.
  • invisibubble
    invisibubble Posts: 662 Member
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    Beh, normal fluctuations easily fall within that amount, as as it's been said, time of day, clothing etc have an impact too. And yup, trends are what matter.
  • Trechechus
    Trechechus Posts: 2,819 Member
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    I think their rigged. That ALWAYS happens to me, too!
  • JennMarieFitz
    JennMarieFitz Posts: 73 Member
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    My doctor's office actually just ASKS my weight, with the scale in the room. I don't own a scale, so I never have a clue!
  • Valera0466
    Valera0466 Posts: 319 Member
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    I had a recent check for body fat and they said they remove two pounds for clothing with shoes off. So take your shoes off at doctor and add two lbs for clothing.

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