New: NCI-funded clinical trial search
Mednet Logo
CommunityPrimary Care

How do you discuss the role (if there is any) of frequently weighing yourself at home for patients who desire weight loss?

Is there a role, or do you find it largely drives the fixation of health being based on the number on the scale?
3 Answers
Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
General Internal Medicine · West Virginia University
Answered on

The frequency of weighing is very individualized. It can be easy for people to get caught up in day-to-day fluctuations, which may not be meaningful, but could be upsetting. To identify true trends, the sweet spot for weighing frequency for most people is generally 1-3 times per week. For people wit...

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer

Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Primary Care · George Mason University
Answered on

As with many things in medicine, whether and how often to advise patients to weigh themselves is an individualized decision.

Certainly, patients with clinically relevant obesity should weigh themselves with some regularity, because lack of awareness of the magnitude of obesity and the direction of w...

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer

Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Primary Care · VCU Medical Center
Answered on

Yes, I believe weighing is a very important part of a weight loss and weight maintenance journey. It's one of the top things people in the National Weight Control Registry did. However, you have to teach your patients how to do it without blame and shame. It should be used to reflect on the past wee...

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer