Scales - weighing dd without her seeing the result?

[defnotadomesticgoddess]

Has anyone got any ideas of how to weigh someone without them seeing the weight?

My dd is having problems with eating and just had a zoom appt with her psychiatrist for a review. I need to weigh her every 2 weeks but as she becomes fixated on the numbers and it affects her eating behaviours we tried to do it without her seeing, I thought I’d covered it up with a piece of cardboard but she still saw it (she was facing the other way too). This is quite stressful for her so I don’t want to make it even more stressful - but how do I do this without her seeing the numbers?

How old is she?

Blindfold? Hand over eyes?

Why does her psychiatrist need to know her weight?

@Fatted ...because she's got a problem with eating!?

Could you try the sort of scales they use at WW where the weight is displayed on a screen not on the scale? Not sure how much they are to buy

I think you can get scales that don't show the number but it goes to an app on your phone. You'd need to make sure it is hidden/locked to stop her accessing it but she wont see the number on the scale.

Get her to stand backwards on the scales if you can - this is what I did when I had to be weighed in treatment for anorexia.

You could even see if a local leader for one of the slimming groups could accommodate you weighing her quickly every couple of weeks - my experience of them is they are all lovely and perhaps would just let you nip in at group time and weigh (groups are back on now)

Could she face the other way, with her back to the dial/readout thing?

Can you get the scales that record the last weight, weigh her with the readout covered completely, then look later (then weigh yourself to erase her recording)? If she’s more than a toddler, which I guess she is, you’re going to have to be honest... “I have noticed that the numbers get in your head; the psych does need to know the numbers but we don’t, so let’s think about (whatever she likes-an activity? a hobby?) and being healthy?”

Former anorexic here. I’m so sorry you’re going through this, it’s a hideous disease for both of you.

I wouldn’t worry about your daughter seeing her weight. Yes she will fret and obsess but that’s the disease and she will be doing that regardless. I would say that a gradual managed increase in weight is much easier to cope with than a sudden huge jump when she does finally know. In all my years of treatment weigh ins were never ‘secret’.

Whatever you do, don’t take her to slimming world or whatever to be weighed! I know that was a very well intentioned suggestion from a PP but anorexics don’t think like that and it could be disastrous in terms of making her think you think she is fat. I know that sounds bonkers, because it is bonkers but that’s why she is in treatment.

No one suggested taking her to WW. Just using that type of scales.

Yes they did - zaffa suggested at 10.08 that a slimming group leader could accommodate a weigh in at the beginning or end of the session.

@GreyishDays

No one suggested taking her to WW. Just using that type of scales.

@TheProvincialLady is right I did - I didn't really think it through and as I only have experience of being too fat (hence my great knowledge of the WW scales!) I completely defer to her experience. I didn't think through the psychological impact of that actually and how that could further affect OPs daughter and definitely retract my suggestion. It is probably a good example of being well meaning but way off the mark.

I didn't mean actually signing her up, just nipping in before set up to use the scales but yes, I can now see how thoughtless that suggestion was. Sorry

There are scales that send the weight to your phone so you could place a tissue or something over the physical screen and get the weight sent to your phone?

'Smart' scales I think they come under if searching for them

Thanks for all your suggestions. I’ll find scales that don’t display the weight.

Zaffa thanks I know you meant well 💐. She won’t be going anywhere near a slimming club it’s hard enough with all of the lockdown weight loss ads that appear everywhere! She’s 20 and I’m hopeful that we’ll get on top of it. I just want her to be well. We have fantastic support from her psychologist and psychiatrist thankfully x

Zaffa your suggestion was not remotely thoughtless. It’s next to impossible to get into the mindset of anorexics unless you’ve been there - and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone - or are a highly trained and specialist MH professional.

Good luck OP, I hope your daughter gets well soon.