Can I Decline Being Weighed At The Doctor’s office?

Weight stigma and fatphobia have a negative impact on all people independently of their weight and they affect all areas of people’s lives (school, work, social, personal, emotional, physical, and health among others). Nonetheless, it is well known that they have a greater impact on fat people, because they are directly harmed by stigmatization and discrimination.

So often health concerns are disguised by fat stigma. Negative, prejudicial, and stereotypical beliefs and attitudes toward individuals based on their size, are prevalent in our society and are clearly present in the healthcare field. Fat stigma has been identified as a barrier to seeking health care services by those most affected.

In general, the message we receive in our society and especially in the healthcare system is that if you are a thin person then you must be healthy and if you a fat person then you must be unhealthy or will be soon. Our healthcare field has pathologized fat people by referring to them as “overweight” or “obese”. These terms suggest that a fat body is a diseased body and this inaccurate and problematic.

Being asked to step on the scale at the doctor’s office, regardless of the purpose of the visit, is one way that healthcare providers practice weight-based care and perpetuate weight stigma. If you’ve ever wondered about how your weight informs your treatment at the doctor’s office; you would like to inform yourself better and form your own opinion; or you want more resources that will help you have a discussion about weight with a healthcare provider; then this free guide is for you!

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