Home access to a weight scale in the Hispanic/Latino population attending a community-based free clinic.

Background: Daily weighing has been shown to help with weight management. In primary care, the majority of virtual visits will ask patients about their weight. However, little is known about whether patients, especially those in the Hispanic/Latino population, have access to a weight scale. Our aim was to determine scale access and perceived height and weight in the Hispanic/Latino population attending a volunteer, no cost, community clinic.

Methods: Questionnaires were issued to patients attending the community clinic and a comparator group attending a medically insured primary care practice.

Results: Only 52% of the Hispanic/Latino patients attending the community clinic had access to a scale compared with 85% of patients in the primary care office. Patients underreported weight and overreported height leading to underreporting body mass index by 0.6 ± 3.2 kg/m.

Conclusions: Healthcare providers who care for uninsured Hispanic/Latino patients in community clinics may need to be aware that patients may not have access to a scale.