Registering with a new GP - must I be weighed at the medical because I hate the thought

[AxisofEvil]

This is going to sound a bit silly but this is really bothering me.

I've just moved house and have filled in the forms for my new GP and have a nurse appointment booked in for a (seemingly compulsory) "medical". However I am extremely keen not to get weighed.

Now, I am pretty overweight and I know it. I am well educated and am completely aware of the health problems that go with this.

But the key point is that I've had food issues most of my life (to some degree still do) and when I was a teenager they were pretty awful. However I've always managed to keep the existence of this off my medical records and to be honest even the thought of having to either be weighed or have to explain myself makes me feel upset. I do actually know my weight but I wouldn't want to tell it to them either.

So, is the weight point compulsory for registration? Obviously they can't make me be weighed but can they refuse to register me if I don't?

The new entry medical is often an opportunity for health promotion, and can pick up things like high blood pressure, diabetes, wee infections etc. But they can't refuse to register you for not being weighed.

We don't weigh everyone at New Patient Appts! We take a brief history of any chronic diseases eg Diabetes (it takes weeks for your notes to arrive), make sure family immunisations are up to date, Well Woman stuff, smoking, drinking questions, urine test etc.

Please don't worry, they can't make you do anything you don't want to do.

AFAIK, the whole medical is not compulsory. They are required to offer you a medical, and they have government targets for completing a set number/proportion of them, but I believe they can't require you to do it.

That is certainly the case up here in Scotland. I had the medical, but never went back for the blood test. DH never had te medical at all. We both got registered no problem.

Just get weighed its no problem the nurse weighs a lot of people and youre no different - dont stress just be weighed and then carry on.

nope you don't have to be weighed

nickschick it's not that simple for someone who has had problems with their weight in the way it sounds like axis has. The weighing is just how it all starts

Im not thin - truly im not (size16) nd i didnt mean to be patronising all i was saying was just get it done and thats it ...

sounds like Axis had had EDs NC that's what i meant

I asked not to be told my weight, which was fine - I am not overweight or indeed underweight, but I find it unhelpful to know wat I weigh (as a teenager I weighed myself daily and plotted weight charts so I don't want to go there again).

Thanks people - I feel much better now. To be honest I'd rather skip the whole appointment as I have no ongoing health issues or medication. If I cancel it will I still be registered with the doctors?

nickschick - I'm sure you meant well but you clearly don't quite understand my situation. Its not at all equivalent to saying "oh they see rashes on bottoms all the time".

nickschick - I'm sure you meant well but you clearly don't quite understand my situation. Its not at all equivalent to saying "oh they see rashes on bottoms all the time".

Im sorry i was so ignorant,I hope i havent upset you.

Thanks nickschick

I think adressing the " food issues" would be a good idea.
don't be such an ostrich.
if you know you are too fat why not eat less?

Axis, I think they will be more understanding. I'm totally with you. I hate doctors/medicals and get in a huge panic. Today I was "forced" to see my GP and she was lovely. I feel so much better for getting it over and done with.

Wow, wizard, what an amazing insight. I'm sure there are millions of people who have just never thought of that.

Well she could at least try.
as she is intelligent and all that

Wizard! That is totally unnecessary! It is not always that simple.

But if she did eat less she would lose weight.
So stop buying the lard man. Or have you totally lost all self control?

Wizard, Just piss off will you. There's a lad.

You could do with a little work on your own self-control, Wizard. How about not kicking someone when they are down?

They can't make you.
It sounds like your medical issue is mental and that it would be great if part of the new GP registration included a referral to someone who could deal with the psychological issues you have over weight and the causes of them.

that is a mean post wizard

DH registered at my docs and they said 'ooh you will need a medical' and he said 'yeah, yeah, I'll make an appt'. Made one, cancelled it a week before it was due and never made another one. It's been five years now. We know he's registered because they keep inviting him to well man checks (whatever the hell they are) but he's still not seen them. So no you don't have to do it.

I too had some eating issues - when I registered I said 'I don't want to be weighed' and they accepted it without question. During my pregnancy I had pre-eclampsia (both both DCs) so weight was an issue and I agreed with my midwife that I would stand the wrong way round so I couldn't see the display and found this was okay for me. Perhaps you could consider that if you do want them to have the figure but don't want to know it (yes I know this is psychologically flakey and I await Wizard hitting me with her big shitty stick).

They will not stop your registration if you choose not to be weighed. They may offer unsolicited advice but it is probably on their crib sheet to do so. No need to worry either way.

I have to get weighed quite often because I have IBD. I ask not to be told how heavy I am. I don't want to know as it bothers me. I just don't find the numbers useful.