A few months ago, I read an article about a patient with a history of eating disorders asking not to have their weight read aloud during routine check-ups. I was immediately intrigued because it hadn’t even occurred to me that one could make requests at the doctor’s office.

Last week, when I read another article about a woman’s experience asking not to be weighed at all during doctor’s visits, it prompted this doctor’s office themed Motivate Monday.

1. Regular visits with your doctor are an important component of your overall health. Establishing a good relationship with your physician is just one of the many reasons you should go to the doctor even when you’re healthy.

2. If you’re a woman, there are several seemingly minor symptoms you should always see your gynecologist about. Dr. Lauren Streicher, an associate professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, says we often confuse common with normal. Several symptoms, like unusual bleeding and persistent abdominal pain, might be common but aren’t normal and are reasons to visit your gynecologist.

3. If you have a doctor’s appointment coming up, familiarize yourself with this list of 10 things you should never do before a doctor’s appointment and 4 things you should.

4. Finally, the article that inspired this entire MotivateMonday: Melissa Fabello, doctoral candidate in Widener University’s Human Sexuality Studies program, details her experience asking not to be weighed at the doctor’s office in light of her history battling eating disorders.

While recording your weight can sometimes be an important part of helping your doctor understand your overall health, it is not the only or even most important metric. As such, if it could pose significant damage to your mental and/or physical health to know your weight, consider asking not to be weighed or to have your weight written down in your file but not read aloud.

—Obianuju Enworom