Being weighed at the doctors...
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Blondeeee25
Posts: 2 Member
Hey everyone! I recently was weighed at the doctors and it made me think about some things. My home scale is calibrated every time
Before I use it and so I know it is correct ( within a lb). When I use it I weigh naked and in the morning. After just breakfast my weight is up 3 lbs and my clothes have never weighed less than 2lb when I experimented weighing before and after getting dressed. This is 5 lb of weight that is not even me... My weight always is back to normal or less in the morning. At the doctors their " just calibrated scale" showed this 5 lb difference and the nurse didn't hesitate to write it down without even considering all the clothes and food in my stomach. This doesn't seem accurate to weigh patients this way. Why do doctors even do it? Most people including me are very honest and would be happy to tell them what # the scale actually said that morning. I weigh myself morning and night ( for tracking purposes) and so I know my weight is more accurate than theirs, but they need to write down something. It's just really humiliating to be told I weigh 140 when I really know I'm 135. The doctor even commented saying " why would you have written down your weight as so much lower than the scale said?" .. First off, five pounds is not a lot especially for an athlete like me who eats a huge breakfast and I drink a gallon of water every morning I run ( which alone weighs 8 lbs). She's not considering I did weigh myself but before I ate my huge breakfast and frank half a gallon of water and then put on 2 lb of clothes ? Anyone else know this frustration? Do you ever comment back or do you keep your mouth shut like I did? I knew I was right so I didn't feel the need to argue with someone so clueless.
Before I use it and so I know it is correct ( within a lb). When I use it I weigh naked and in the morning. After just breakfast my weight is up 3 lbs and my clothes have never weighed less than 2lb when I experimented weighing before and after getting dressed. This is 5 lb of weight that is not even me... My weight always is back to normal or less in the morning. At the doctors their " just calibrated scale" showed this 5 lb difference and the nurse didn't hesitate to write it down without even considering all the clothes and food in my stomach. This doesn't seem accurate to weigh patients this way. Why do doctors even do it? Most people including me are very honest and would be happy to tell them what # the scale actually said that morning. I weigh myself morning and night ( for tracking purposes) and so I know my weight is more accurate than theirs, but they need to write down something. It's just really humiliating to be told I weigh 140 when I really know I'm 135. The doctor even commented saying " why would you have written down your weight as so much lower than the scale said?" .. First off, five pounds is not a lot especially for an athlete like me who eats a huge breakfast and I drink a gallon of water every morning I run ( which alone weighs 8 lbs). She's not considering I did weigh myself but before I ate my huge breakfast and frank half a gallon of water and then put on 2 lb of clothes ? Anyone else know this frustration? Do you ever comment back or do you keep your mouth shut like I did? I knew I was right so I didn't feel the need to argue with someone so clueless.
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Replies
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I would have said, "5lbs is well within normal daily fluctuations but you are a doctor and I'm sure you know that"20
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I just had this experience but it was with my OBG, what kind of a doctor did you see? Why was your weight so important for them to discuss with you, especially for them to tell you 5 lbs is a huge difference? To me it it was not a big deal, so what. You shouldn't feel humiliated, you said it yourself, 5 lbs is not a lot.. Blow it off it's not that deep0
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I notice every doctors offices scale adds almost five lbs. I swear. I don't understand it. My doctor is really nice and plus I have thyroid issues so he never mentions my weight.0
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Your doctor knows that the clothes you're wearing add to your weight--they're not looking at your weight as an absolute, but for trending. Do you want to have to have an enema and strip naked before being weighed at the doctor's office?25
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I'm thinking you are way more concerned with five measley lbs than your doc ever would be. Especially saying that is "humiliating" to have the nurse write 140 lbs in your chart rather than 135... That's concerning that you would feel humiliated over five lbs. I don't know how tall you are, but I'm guess either 135 or 140 would be considered perfectly normal. That's what the doc is looking at. He or she isn't concerned with vanity - they are checking your weight at the time, as well as trends over time (have you gained or lost a lot since last year's visit, for example). And I'm confused - first you said the nurse wrote down your weight, but then you said the doc asked you why you wrote your weight down lower than what their scale said, which is it - are you writing down what your scale said that morning, or is the nurse writing down what the doctor's scale said? Personally I think you are putting way too much emphasis on what the scale (any scale) says. Humiated over five lbs? Really? Has your doc ever advised you to lose weight over this minor discrepancy? If not, then why are you bothered by it?14
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Really not sure why it's such a big deal, I'm thinking mountain, molehill ... I go to the doctors twice a year for a check up. They do blood pressure and weight.
I weigh myself every morning too, naked and before eating anything. Of course my weight at the end of the work day, fully clothed is going to be different, but I always have my appointment fully clothed and generally at the end of the day so actually the Dr is getting his reading under consistent conditions.
They are only interested in general trends over time for me anyway as I have no weight medical related issues.3 -
The same thing happens when I got to the doctor but I don't stress too much because it's all relative. They basically want to know if your weight goes from "140" to 180 over the course of a couple of months. At least that's what my doctor does. She's concerned more about the fluctuations and upward or downward trend than the actual number. As long as you know your actual weight, it's ok, I wouldn't worry too much because your weight is more accurate with the way you weigh yourself.0
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Blondeeee25 wrote: »Hey everyone! I recently was weighed at the doctors and it made me think about some things. My home scale is calibrated every time
Before I use it and so I know it is correct ( within a lb). When I use it I weigh naked and in the morning. After just breakfast my weight is up 3 lbs and my clothes have never weighed less than 2lb when I experimented weighing before and after getting dressed. This is 5 lb of weight that is not even me... My weight always is back to normal or less in the morning. At the doctors their " just calibrated scale" showed this 5 lb difference and the nurse didn't hesitate to write it down without even considering all the clothes and food in my stomach. This doesn't seem accurate to weigh patients this way. Why do doctors even do it? Most people including me are very honest and would be happy to tell them what # the scale actually said that morning. I weigh myself morning and night ( for tracking purposes) and so I know my weight is more accurate than theirs, but they need to write down something. It's just really humiliating to be told I weigh 140 when I really know I'm 135. The doctor even commented saying " why would you have written down your weight as so much lower than the scale said?" .. First off, five pounds is not a lot especially for an athlete like me who eats a huge breakfast and I drink a gallon of water every morning I run ( which alone weighs 8 lbs). She's not considering I did weigh myself but before I ate my huge breakfast and frank half a gallon of water and then put on 2 lb of clothes ? Anyone else know this frustration? Do you ever comment back or do you keep your mouth shut like I did? I knew I was right so I didn't feel the need to argue with someone so clueless.
It sounds like your dr is just weird if he/she comments on a difference this small. I have never met IRL any dr looking into that much detail when it comes to weight.2 -
I think the Doctor's offices have a conspiracy with their scales. I always weigh more there. Just shake it off.2
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I don't think it should even be an issue. You weighed 5lbs heavier having eaten and with your clothes on. To be fair to the doctor they aren't going to guestimate for each person what their clothes might weigh or what their fluid consumption was that morning, their most accurate method is their scale at the time of the appointment. You know what you weigh and that's all that matters.1
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I wouldn't put too much thought into the 5lb difference, especially since you know what caused it. The doctors just need an idea of your weight over time. I've stopped believing in doctor or gym scales after learning how they are not always properly calibrated. Trust your home scale and go about your day. Sounds like you're doing great!
I personally want to get to a weight where I weigh my 'goal' fully clothed and after eating.
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The reason the doctors do not allow patients to input their own weight is because the doctor has no way of knowing what scale you are using or the calibration at home. Therefore they use the scale in the office to track trends. And while you may be honest, most people are not honest when it comes to their weight, so again, another reason to track at the office.
It's also worth considering that your scale at home could be off, which is why it can be better to look at weight as an average or a range, rather than an absolute.2 -
Just wanted to add - I have spoken up when there was a major discrepancy. With my third child, at one of my prenatal visits their scale said I was about 20 lbs heavier than I was at home that morning! The nurse wrote the number on a piece of paper, and I said, "hey, that's not right". Of course she kind of smirked at the silly pregnant lady who was sure she couldn't possibly weigh as much as the scale said. I said again, "no, really that's not right". Then we went back to the exam room and she went to retrieve my chart (and write the number in it). She came back in pretty damn quick and asked me to come step on a different scale, lol. I said, "yeah, I told ya it wasn't right - if it is right you're gonna need to call an ambulance because I'm severely preeclamptic".
Anyway, tldr - yes speak up if the docs scale shows there is a major discrepancy (like 15-20 lbs). But five lbs? Not worth caring about.5 -
It's not really a big deal to me. I go to the doctor and get on their scale, knowing full well I just finished a protein bar in my car and I'm wearing tennis shoes and a hoodie, and I fully expect an additional 5-7 lbs to show up on their scale. I just chuckle and shake it off because I know, and my doctor knows, that weight fluctuates throughout the day. Besides, what are they gonna make me do, strip naked to weigh myself? Absolutely not.
I suppose if it bothers you to the point that you are humiliated over 5 pounds, you could start making all of your appointments as soon as the doctors office opens, don't eat or drink anything until then, wear some super lightweight clothing, and take some thin socks with you to use when you get on the scale3 -
Sounds kind of rude of the doctor. If she was going to weigh you anyway to check the number, what was the point of you writing one in and then her commenting on it being wrong. Even if you weren't weighing yourself regularly, 5 lbs give or take is a good guess.0
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This just doesn't bother me...it's a number to put on my chart and I know it's going to be a little off. I don't even look because I go by my own scale at home and go by that. Total non-issue.0
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most Doctor's weigh you as a part of a routine checkup - they are looking for glaring abnormalities -being overweight, underweight, or having a "surprising" weight (you weigh 20 lbs more than you appear and perhaps have a tumor or growth, or you have gained or lost a significant amount of weight in a significant amount of time) - it's not like it's legal record, or that once they put that number on the piece of paper, it means you weigh it - it's completely arbitrary and the 3 pounds of clothes and food weight isn't going to change the medical advice they give you!
No need to be too focused on a number, we all do this, we all go to the doctor, they all weigh us with our clothes on, we all come in 5 pounds higher, you go home and weigh yourself in your way and get the number you want....nbd.1 -
I just went to the doctor last week and refused to be weighed on their scale. I just told them that I seriously dieting and had weighed myself that morning. The nurse used rhe weight I gave her.0
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The doctor's scale is within 3 lbs of my own weigh-ins so I'm not too concerned the difference. However, I have to go in for mandatory blood work every year, in order to get health insurance through my husband's job (don't even get me started on this grrrr). Weight/BMI is part of what they track and I do make sure they have my accurate weight-the lab tech has always been ok with adjusting the weight down to match my home weigh-in (theirs is usually off around 5lbs).0
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I had no idea the weight variation on clinic scales was so universal. It makes me think it might be deliberate but to what end I can't imagine. I was prepared at first to assume that the clinic scale was more accurate than my home one. Then I tested my digital with one of my 20 lb barbells. A Life brand scale might not be 100% accurate, but I figured Cap was not going to manufacture 10 lb plates that weighed 12 lbs and I was right. My scale was correct within a few ounces.
I always weigh 5 lbs more on my GP's scale, but he always deducts 4 lbs for food and clothing.0
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