The scale can be a very challenging part of eating disorder recovery. Many of us living with eating disorders may find this scary, uncomfortable, and very triggering. Often, checking for a change in our weight is unhelpful, and it does not help us move forward.
Not everyone living with an eating disorder needs to take a break from the scale; however, it is common that a large portion of us will need to refrain from weighing ourselves during recovery. We may need to make sure we set healthy boundaries that reduce unnecessary scale use.
This begs the question: When do we actually need to know our weight?
It’s a great question. Interestingly, a very small number of scenarios exist in which our weight is required. Let’s take a look!
Scenario #1: The Doctors Office
It may be important for our medical team to monitor our weight fluctuations; this is how they monitor our bodies when they are undergoing some of the anticipated changes in recovery. In other situations, however, our doctors do not have to weigh us at each visit.
Weighing eating disorder patients can be tricky and it is important to know that we are not truly required to be weighed every time we go to the doctor. As we move towards the end of our recovery journey, we can advocate for what feels best for us. We can use our voices to request that our doctor does not weigh us if we do not feel it is necessary or helpful to us.
Some doctors may want to know our weight for reasons that do not revolve around diet. For example, a large change in weight can be an indicator of an underlying, non-diet-related, medical condition such as:
- A thyroid issue
- Cushing’s syndrome
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Sleep Apnea
- Edema
By taking our weight at each appointment, our doctor has a reference point which can help them detect significant weight changes. This helps for early detection of the conditions listed above.
Remember that we have the power in this situation; if we do not want to be weighed routinely by our doctor, that is our decision to make. We also have the option of a blind weigh-in, which we will look at a little bit later in this post!
Scenario #2: Skydiving
When we skydive, our weight determines our parachute size. So, it is pretty important that the skydiving facility knows how much we weigh. We wouldn’t want to have a parachute that did not adequately support our body weight when we’re falling from the sky!
Scenario #3: Anesthesia
When we go in for a dental procedure or a surgery at the hospital, we are likely going to be given some sort of anesthetic. The amount of anesthetic given to a patient is on a “dose per weight” basis. So, it is important that our anesthesiologists know how much we weigh. We certainly do not want more or less anesthetic than we need, so this is a situation where an accurate weight needs to be provided.
Any other time someone asks you to hop on a scale, it is probably not required.
If we do find ourselves in one of these situations where we need to be weighed, we can ask for a blind weigh-in.
What is a blind weigh-in?
As the name implies, a blind weigh-in simply means we are blinded from the scale. There are two common techniques for blind weigh-ins:
- Step on the scale backwards with our back to the number
- Step on the scale with our eyes closed
In both cases, the individual weighing us can record the number without reading it aloud. This way, the required weigh-in is completed, and our boundaries are not crossed. Scales and eating disorders can be challenging and blind weights are one way to make scales less distressing for folks living with eating disorders.
How can I ask for a blind weigh-in?
Some of us might be a bit uncomfortable asking for a blind weigh-in. Not to worry! Here are some different ways we can ask for a blind weigh-in. Feel free to copy these into a notes app for the future.
- “I am not sure what my weight is, and I am not really interested in knowing. Do you have a scale I could step on and you can check my weight without telling me?”
- “I am not weighing myself right now. Could I step on the scale backwards and you can record my weight privately?”
- “I do not want to know my weight. I will close my eyes and you can check it for me. Please do not tell me the number. “
Scales can be tricky. Sometimes it is in our best interest to refrain from using the scale. Other times, it is necessary for our weight to be recorded. In these situations, we still do not have to look at the scale! We can consider a blind weigh-in the next time our weight is required; allowing for a much more peaceful experience.
How Can Change Creates Change Help
If you suspect your child or loved one is living with an eating disorder and may struggle during holiday seasons, you can book a free 15-minute consultation call with one of our clinicians. During the call, we will discuss how we can help your child and family navigate eating disorder recovery together.
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