About Us

✔ We are a private clinic offering weight loss surgery and weight loss medication options. Dr. Chow and his medical team provide you with a safe space to discuss your weight and your goals while offering you a tailored solution to fit your lifestyle.

✔ We are the only clinic to offer Nutrigenomic DNA testing (saliva sample) as an adjunct to weight loss medication for an effective solution to weight management.

Services

Essential Balance - $500

This includes:

✓ A consult with Dr. Chow to find out which weight loss medications you qualify for and which would be the best fit for you. Leave with a prescription the same day if you are a suitable candidate.

✓ A consult with our dietitian for practical, sustainable, and effective nutrition solutions.

✓ A follow-up in 3 months with Dr. Chow to review your weight loss progress and determine if the medication is correctly working for you.

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Advanced DNA Health - $900

This includes:

✓ All from 'Essential Balance', plus...

✓ Nutrigenomic DNA testing to optimize your nutrition and achieve weight loss tailored to your unique genetic profile.

Note: The appointment with the dietitian will occur once the DNA results are received.

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FAQ

Do I qualify?

If your body mass index (BMI) is higher than 30, you may qualify. If your BMI is at least 27 with an obesity-related health issue such as pre-diabetes or diabetes, high blood pressure or hypertension, high cholesterol or dyslipidemia, sleep apnea, fatty liver, foot, ankle, hip, or back pain, reflux, PCOS, or infertility, you may qualify for weight loss medication.

Why do I need to consult with a dietitian?

The evidence shows that in order to obtain optimal results when using weight loss medication, the individual should maintain a healthy diet and be active. Dr. Chow strongly advises consulting with our dietitian in order to encourage these optimal results for the benefit and satisfaction of each of his patients. These medications can also lead to digestive issues such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea. The dietitian will provide you with recommendations to mitigate or reduce the discomforts related to the side effects. If you already have a dietitian you consult with regularly, you can mention this to our coordinator when scheduling the appointment and we will waive the portion of the fees for the dietitian.

Why do I need a follow-up appointment with the doctor?

Dr. Chow highly advises a follow-up appointment to assess the efficacy of the medication, address the side effects that you may experience, and to be sure that you are losing the weight that is expected with the medication. Everyone responds differently to medication so a drug that produces great results in one person, does not produce the same results in another. If after 3 months you are not achieving the weight loss expected of the medication, Dr. Chow will consider another option. If things are going well, Dr. Chow will renew your prescription.

Will I meet the doctor and dietitian on the same day?

When possible, we always try to accommodate appointments on the same day. However, due to certain schedule limitations, we may recommend dividing your appointments on different days and/or having your consultation with the dietitian be by means of a virtual consultation in order to consult with both practitioners in a timely manner. When possible, we always try to accommodate appointments.

If I choose the package including the Nutrigenomics DNA sample, why can't I see the dietitian the same day as the doctor?

The purpose of the DNA test is to provide the dietitian with very specific information that she will need to tailor your dietary information to you, including your estimated energy balance requirements, protein needs, dietary fat needs, and physical activity requirements, among others. The DNA testing in a way is like a doctor tailoring your medication and lifestyle needs based on your blood test results, only in this case you will provide a saliva sample and the results will guide the dietitian's recommendations. This is a truly tailored approach!

Will the DNA test hurt?

The DNA test is 100% painless. It only requires a saliva sample. We will provide you with a kit to obtain this.

Can I still choose the DNA testing if my appointments is by phone?

Absolutely. The DNA test kit will be mailed to you. Once you have followed the instructions in the package you simply need to mail it. The package includes prepaid postage.

How long does it take to obtain the DNA test results?

From the time your DNA test kit is returned, the results are received by our doctor and dietitian within 2 weeks.

BMI Calculator

To find out if you are a possible candidate for weight loss medications please calculate below your body mass index (BMI)

Why Choose Us?

✔ Quick access to consultations: No wait times. Get an appointment within 1-2 weeks.

✔ Flexible appointments: The first consultation is done in-office, but follow-ups can be done virtually, if preferred.

✔ Effective results: Our doctor follows-up with you in 3 months to ensure that the medication selected is leading to the weight loss that is expected. No time is wasted if the medication is not producing results, we switch to another option, as needed.

✔ Experienced and dedicated team: Each team member has extensive experience working with overweight and obesity, dedicating their careers to serving people looking for sustainable and long term weight management solutions.

✔ Safety: Our team is accustomed to consulting for weight loss medications.

✔ Judgment-free zone: Our patients continually express our clinic as being a welcoming and safe space. We are an established, reputable clinic that has successfully treated obesity for nearly 20 years.

We encourage patient participation. Learn more about the various types of weight loss medications and the differences between them.

Read the article: Comparing Weight Loss Medications: Which One is Right for You?

To learn more about DNA testing, view our patient consent form by clicking here.

Ready to get started?

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About the Clinic

We are a bariatric surgery practice offering laparoscopic surgical solutions for obesity and excess weight including the sleeve gastrectomy and the gastric bypass. Since 2006, we have been receiving many patients who do not qualify for surgery or who are not ready to consider surgery. Rather than turn these patients away, we have always provided alternative medical weight loss solutions to help our patients seeking a solution. Prescribing and counseling for weight loss beyond surgery has always been an element to our practice since its foundation.