[Article] The Dreaded Weigh-In

The Dreaded Weigh-In

By TARA PARKER-POPE

For many people, the worst part of the doctor visit is getting on the scale.

University of Pennsylvania researchers say they believe some women may be avoiding the doctor just to avoid being weighed in front of other people. They surveyed 482 college-age men and women to determine how sensitive they were to the disclosure of personal information, including their weight.

The study, to be published in an upcoming issue of the medical journal Appetite, showed that women experienced high degrees of discomfort at the prospect of being weighed in the presence of others.

The problem is that many busy doctors’ offices put the scale in a well-trafficked hallway or a common room, where the weigh-in can be witnessed by other patients. The survey data suggest that some women may avoid going to the doctor and getting necessary tests like mammograms if their doctor visit includes a step on a public scale. [ Click here to read the rest of the article ]