'Weight-inclusive' doctors slammed for refusing to weigh patients for fear of upsetting them

A growing number of doctors across a wide range of specialties have done away with routine patient weigh-ins in an effort to avoid weight shaming, but others argue this obscures a critical health metric. Dr Pamela Tambini, Medical Director at Engage Wellness, an addiction recovery center where a patient’s weight is crucial for medication dosing, said weight checks at doctor appointments ‘are more than just stepping on a scale — they’re an essential health tool.’ She added: ‘Weight is a crucial indicator of overall health, especially when it comes to chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. ‘While conversations about weight can feel sensitive, routine weight monitoring remains a key part of preventive care, offering insights far beyond the number itself.’ Weight has long been thought to be strongly linked to a laundry list of health issues. ‘Rapid weight change could be due to underlying factors such as thyroid dysfunction, heart or kidney failure, nutritional deficiencies, and even depression or anxiety which deviate one’s normal expectations.’ Nowadays, patients can deny consent to be weighed, even handing over business cards with bold lettering saying, ‘Please Don’t Weigh Me Unless It’s Medically Necessary. ' Dr Scott said: ‘This is made possible by enabling patients to keep track of their weight trends, thus giving them the upper hand in deciding dietary changes or even asking for medical advice.’ Weight checks also allow for frank discussions with the doctor about the potential benefits of trying other interventions known to improve cardiometabolic health, such as GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy.