Is It Possible to Decline Weighing During a Check-Up?
Hi there! I’m a 14-year-old female, standing at 5 feet 2 inches and weighing approximately between 190 and 200 pounds. I have a wellness check scheduled for Tuesday and I'm curious about whether my weight has to be recorded. Is it within my rights to say no to being weighed?
Answers (1)
7/25/2025, 12:30:57 PM
OpenHealth AI
It's completely understandable to feel apprehensive about having your weight recorded during a check-up, especially at a young age. You do have the right to decline being weighed, but it's important to consider the reasons why weight is often measured during these visits.
Weight can provide valuable information about your overall health, including the effects of growth, nutrition, and physical activity. However, you also have the autonomy to decide what you feel comfortable with regarding your body and health care.
Here’s a breakdown of what you can do:
-
Communicate Your Feelings:
- Speak openly with your healthcare provider about your concerns regarding weighing. You can explain how you feel about it and why you’d prefer not to be weighed. This conversation can help establish a supportive and understanding environment.
-
Understand the Purpose:
- Weighing is often done to monitor growth and health trends. If you are comfortable, consider discussing how you and your provider can focus on other aspects of wellness without prioritizing weight.
-
Make an Informed Decision:
- If you choose to decline being weighed, it’s still a good idea to have a conversation about your overall health, including nutrition and physical activity. This helps ensure you get the most out of your check-up.
Next Steps:
- Before your appointment, write down your feelings and any questions you have about weight and health.
- Practice what you want to say to your provider to help ease any anxiety you might feel.
- Remember that your health comes first, and it’s okay to advocate for what makes you comfortable.
Ultimately, you should feel empowered to take charge of your health discussions. Let me know if you have any other questions or additional concerns!
Related Questions
Urgent Assistance Needed: Experiencing Partial Paralysis in My Fingers as a Keyboard Musician
Age: 56 Gender: Female Height: 5'4" Weight: 135 lbs Ethnicity: Caucasian Symptom Duration: Partial paralysis for three days; pain has persisted for several years. Affected Areas: Neck, arm, hand, and fingers. Relevant Medical History: Underwent rotator cuff surgery and biceps tenodesis 19 months ago. Medications: Wellbutrin 300mg, Lexapro 5mg, Jornay PM 80mg. I have battled neck problems for an extended period, experiencing discomfort when turning my head and numbness or tingling in my right hand. Approximately 19 months prior, I had surgery on my rotator cuff. Recently, after some gardening this past Tuesday, I began to notice weakness in my ring and pinky fingers on the right hand, impacting my ability to grip everyday items like a pencil or toothbrush. At this moment, I find it impossible to close my fingers properly or maneuver my pinky side to side. As a keyboardist, I am particularly distressed as my pinky just collapses against the keys, almost as if it’s immobilized. My ring finger struggles to assist as I attempt to use my pinky. After about 45 minutes of playing, I experience significant pain in my shoulder, discomfort in my upper arm, severe tingling, and relentless fatigue. At times, I am unable to press the keys at all. To make matters worse, I am currently at a performance, which feels like a complete nightmare. The prospect of needing a referral from my primary care doctor to a neurologist, waiting for months for an appointment, and being instructed to undergo physical therapy before even getting an MRI is terrifying, especially since I rely on my ability to play for my livelihood. I am genuinely worried about what might happen if these symptoms persist.
Sudden Appearance of a Flat Brown Mole
As a 20-year-old female, I've noticed a small brown mole that has emerged almost overnight on the left side of my chin, just beneath my lip. Is this something I should be worried about? I've had two black moles on my neck and calf since childhood, but this new one seems to have appeared unexpectedly on my face.
Persistent Discomfort in My Left Ear for a Year
At 17 years old, standing 5’9” tall and weighing 68 kg, I've never smoked and haven’t encountered any previous ear problems. For the past year, however, I've experienced an odd condition with my left ear. Daily, around the same time, I feel a burning sensation that escalates to the point where it seems like hot lava is flowing from it. Following this, my ear becomes red and is notably warm to the touch. I can confidently say that it's not an issue related to the skin; the area around my ear appears completely normal, except for the reddening during these episodes. While this situation isn't particularly painful, it remains uncomfortable quite frequently. I thought it would be wise to seek some insights from others about what might be causing this and whether it warrants a visit to a healthcare professional.
Deformation of Jaw Bone
(22M No medication or previous issues regarding this area) The left side of my jawbone appears to be distorted. In contrast, the right side maintains a typical "L" shape, while the left has gradually begun bending inwards over the last few years, resembling a mild staircase shape. Thankfully, I haven't felt any pain or discomfort associated with this change. However, this alteration has resulted in my left jaw being positioned higher than the right. Consequently, I've observed increasing asymmetry in my facial appearance; my head now rests at a slight angle, my right shoulder is marginally closer to my neck than the left, and there's frequent popping or cracking on the left side of my jaw. The source of this distortion seems to stem from my inconsistent use of plastic retainers after completing my braces treatment. After my sole pair broke, I only wore the left retainer. I first became aware of the jaw issue about two years ago and promptly ceased full-time retainer use. Nevertheless, the situation has only become more conspicuous, especially in recent months. My concern grows as I fear continuous jaw usage might exacerbate the bend, leading to significant complications over time. I fully intend to consult a medical professional or dentist about the matter, but that visit is likely far off since rectifying this issue appears to be neither inexpensive nor straightforward. Currently, as I can still perform daily activities without trouble, I wonder if I should be more alarmed about this condition or prioritize an earlier appointment.
Is My Nail Healthy or in Decline?
My girlfriend, who is 22 years old, underwent surgery for an ingrown toenail nearly two months ago, which involved partial nail removal from the inner side of her big toe. Since the procedure, she has been diligently soaking her foot in Epsom salts and applying antibiotic ointment two to three times each day. Initially, the healing process appeared to progress well. However, recently, she observed that the side of her nail has begun to exhibit discoloration and a depressed appearance. Is this a result of potential damage to the nail from the surgery, or could it indicate a more serious issue that might affect the nail's long-term appearance? She is concerned about the possibility of her nail falling off or becoming permanently unsightly. Additionally, it may be worth mentioning that she has a physically demanding job, and she has been on her feet a lot while recovering, which could also impact her nail’s condition.