Why do hospitals check height and weight at gynae appointments?

[IthinkIminlovewithSalvias]

I had a gynae appointment at a local hospital recently. They called me in to do a height and weight check before I saw the doctor.
I asked the member of staff why they needed to do this when I was just there for a cyst on my fanny. She didn't know why.
Anyone got any ideas?
Do men get their height and weight checked when they have testicle/penis issues?

Oh weird! Only time I’ve ever had my weight checked for a gynae issue was when I was having a pre op for a cone biopsy?

Weird they didn’t know, I’d have wanted to say ill miss that part then thanks

Height and weight are always checked at the clinic I work in for both men and women. I'm not clinical but it is important if meds need prescribing I think

Well conditions like obesity are risk factors for various illnesses including but not limited to breast cancer and ovarian cancers. Having more information and a greater overall view of health can only give them more to work with diagnostically.

And yes men seeing urologists and people seeing seemingly unrelated specialists also have their BMI taken. I am weighed and height checked every time I see the dermatologist for my eczema for example.

And as PP said, certain meds don’t work if your weight is too high for their design. Many contraceptives for example.

Statistics - I always refuse.

So they can track in case there is a dramatic weight gain or loss since the last visit which may indicate something more sinister.

Height and weight have always been checked and mine and my husband’s hospital appointments. I thought it was standard practice for medication purposes. On occasions, I have asked not to be told my weight which they respected.

Two reasons I can think of.
1.Obesity increases risk of lots of health conditions

1. Prescription dose of drugs can be weight dependent. One of my drugs is calibrated according to weight.

My weight and height are checked before rheumatology appointments.

On occasions, I have asked not to be told my weight which they respected.

It must be standard practise here not to tell as I always have to ask.

And yes OP. My husband is going through a long course of treatment and they check him at every appointment to monitor for sudden weight gain or loss, which could affect his treatment.

I had one for an echocardiogram! I’m nowhere near obese 😂

Also I’m wearin clothes/shoes that puts 2 kg on…

They usually have to record BMI, which is calculated with height and weight.

It's as much about monitoring for sudden weight loss which would need to be investigated.

Several reasons. An internet search will give you the answer.

You’re meant to take your shoes off. And they can take clothing into account. They’re not going to act if you’re 2kg into a new category, they’re not stupid.

When I went to a menopause clinic they weighed me with my boots and coat on! But I was overweight anyway (fair cop) and the doctor pointed out that my weight was more of a cancer risk factor than any HRT she might put me on. It was actually a useful conversation — I hadn’t appreciated the exact nature of the risk before. She showed me a scary chart 😱

I did feel a bit humiliated, but she was only doing her job (ie looking after my health), and she was nice about it. I can definitely
imagine a different doctor botching the delivery of that information.

I also remember thinking that she should get danger money for having to have conversations like that with ragey menopausal women who’ve waited 18 months for an appointment.

Being underweight increases the risk of heart issues too… arrhythmia, weakened heart muscles, electrical abnormalities. While overweight/obesity is a risk factor for CVD, atherosclerosis etc.

So completely related to your echo to check either way.

Without any knowledge, I would have thought it would be to give you the correct dosage of medicine, should you need it.
don’t know why anyone would be deliberately obtuse about it, poor nurses having to deal with this when they’re just trying to do their job.

It is the basic first step in examining the patient. Usually followed by temperature, pulse and blood pressure. Back in the day a urine sample was tested as well - a very useful, simple way of picking up anything that could be significant at an early stage.

I imagine to update your medical records so that they always have the latest picture? Useful I imagine for any future diagnosis so they have a baseline and up to date stats against this. I don't have a problem with it. What about it concerns you?

That’s good. It’s better to err on the side of caution in these situations.

They do it for all outpatient appointments.
It's actually very handy for me as I'm a community health professional and sometimes I can pick up weight changes from this such as rapid weight loss which is a red flag for many conditions.

I've only ever been asked my weight once for an MRI scan. I've had dozens of MRIs, CTs, X-rays etc.

They weighed me when I needed emergency orthopedic surgery but that's so they know how much anesthetic and medication to give you.

I guess if the person was really obese then it could complicate the treatment of their illness? But you could just see someone was that big without actually weighing them?

I always thought it was to calibrate sedation drugs/anaesthesia before going through a procedure.

This is true ime.
They do it in the psychiatric clinic.
They are presumably keeping track there for weight loss/gain connected to what’s being prescribed or the illnesses themselves, amongst other things.

Yes, that too.

Even if there is no actual procedure booked, they may need to do one in emergency.