If getting weighed makes you feel uneasy, remember: you have the option to decline.
Its important for patients to know that it is completely within their right not to be weighed.
Erlanger is one of many healthcare providers who offer weight-inclusive care.
Photo Illustration by Amelia Manley for Verywell Health; Getty Images
The journey to getting appropriate health care at every size starts with choosing the right provider.
At her fat-positive clinic, Gaudiani emphasizes the importance of creating an environment that counteracts weight stigma.
Erlanger said bringing a friend or family can be helpful in these scenarios.
They can help ask questions or make requests on behalf of you.
We should decline to have our blood pressure taken in a cuff that doesnt fit, Erlanger said.
Using Self-Advocacy Cards
Self-advocacy cards on theHAES Health Sheets websitecan help you establish boundaries with a provider.
If you want to alter food or exercise or even attempt to lose weight, that is your decision.
But other treatments shouldnt be withheld from you while you do that, Erlanger said.
What This Means For You
Finding a weight-inclusive provider can take time.
