Why do they weigh you at every doctor’s appointment?

For almost all medical encounters, doctors like to use something called “vital signs” to assess the most important parts of a person’s immediate health. They include things like blood pressure, how fast someone’s heart is beating, how fast someone is breathing and the level of oxygen in their body. Especially in pediatrics, height and weight are also considered to be important numbers. This is because part of childhood and adolescence is growth, and pediatricians generally monitor growth!

However, you should know that, unless it’s an emergency situation, you have control over what is done to your body — both in and out of the doctor’s office. This includes taking your weight. It is our job to explain to you why we are measuring your weight and what we can do to make you feel more comfortable. But if measuring your weight is going to cause more harm than good, we have no business inflicting that pain. Truly. Instead, ask to talk through things and figure out when, in the future, weight measurement might be indicated and the conditions under which you would consent. It’s your body.

If you want to learn more about what to expect during a doctor’s visit, check out this page or my YouTube channel.