info@medweight.ca (604) 777-5500 1550 United Blvd, Coquitlam, BC

Medical Weight
Management Program

Multidisciplinary Management of Obesity and Related
Disorders

Become A Patient

Why Choose Us?

The Obesity Medicine and Diabetes Institute provides a comprehensive and medically sound approach to sustainable weight management. Our MSP-covered program is designed to improve the health and quality of life for patients whose physical and/or psychological health is significantly impaired by their weight.

Our interdisciplinary team works to assess patients with obesity, type II diabetes, and other weight-related diseases. Through addressing medical, lifestyle, and mental health-related concerns, we aim to help our patients achieve and maintain a healthier weight and quality of life.

Weight Can be a Serious Matter

If weight gain is causing serious problems with your health, your mobility or your ability to enjoy the fullness of your life, you may need professional help.

Lose Weight, Only to Regain it Later?

Weight loss alone may not be enough to bring about lasting improvements in your weight and your health.

Obesity is Rarely a Simple Problem

Each person has their own story and each person has a different collection of reasons for their struggle with weight.

How to Become Involved in our Program

1

Get a Referral from your Doctor

We need a referral from your family doctor, diabetes specialist or other medical doctor who cares for you. They have to agree that you need our help and must complete the referral form. Referrals can be sent to us by fax, mail or their office can call us.
Our MSP-covered program accepts patients from all over British Columbia.

2

Obtain an Appointment for an Online Consultation with One of our Internal Medicine Specialists

Once we receive the referral form, we will contact you and provide you with an appointment with one of our specialists. This appointment will be done online from your own home or through any mobile device. We have dedicated staff available to help you with this online appointment. Before your appointment , we will also help you connect with our online, highly secure “Patient Home” page where you will answer some questions about your medical history. This will become your personal page where you will book appointments, receive communications from staff and complete questionnaires before attending some of our groups and modules.

3

Attend Your First Medical Visit Online

Your first visit will be with one of our internal medicine specialists online through a secure and simple system known as Doxy.me. Prior to your online doctor visit you will also spend time online with one of our obesity medicine assistants who will introduce you to the program and answer all of your questions. Follow up visits with the specialist will be booked as appropriate for your condition. Family doctors working in our clinic may also be scheduled to see you for diabetes follow ups, medication adjustments and mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, food addiction or attention deficit disorder.

4

Attend Core Group Sessions for Eight Weeks

You will attend a series of 90 minute group medical visits (physician supervised group classes) once per week for eight weeks. These groups are now online and highly interactive. You will get to ask questions through the online chat room and with your computer, phone or Ipad microphone. These groups provide an overview of essential skills and knowledge to get you started on your journey to a healthier future. Since our program is based on the best available scientific evidence, we do a lot of myth busting and we help you sift through the hype and empty promises you might have encountered on television, the internet, and the weight loss industry.

5

Attend Our Focused Modules and Special Groups

Every week (weekday evenings mostly) we run approximately 15 different groups designed to assist patients with a wide range of problems and issues. We will help you to determine which groups are important for you and in some cases, we will strongly suggest that you participate in specific groups to help you with your specific needs. Most of the groups are done in multi-week modules and some groups are done as single special topics. As the weeks, months and years in our program go by, you may elect to attend many of these groups and modules as a way to guide you on your journey to better health.

6

Continued Support

Individual physician visits will occur approx. every 6 months to check in on each patient's progress with their health and weight management. During these visits, weight-related medical conditions will be re-evaluated and treatment plans will be modified accordingly. Please note that individual follow ups may be done more frequently if appropriate.

Program Components

Medical Management

We assess and help with the medical management of patients with obesity and weight-related diseases. This involves a thorough cardiometabolic screening for each new patient consult as well as ongoing follow-up throughout their participation in the program.

Lifestyle Management

We work with patients in our group medical visits to address their nutritional, physical activity, and mental wellbeing needs to enable healthy sustainable lifestyle changes.

Mental Wellbeing

Taking care of one’s mental wellbeing is an important aspect of chronic disease management. Group medical visits in this area focus on how to better cope with stress, as well as anxiety and depression, to increase resilience and improve overall health.

Bariatric Surgery

We assess patients for their need and suitability for bariatric surgery. Patients who qualify for MSP-covered bariatric surgery have the option of participating in this aspect of our program.

Modules

After completing the eight weeks of core group sessions, our staff will help you to determine which groups are important for you and in some cases, we will strongly suggest that you participate in specific groups to help you with your specific needs.


Click the icon to see the module list

Diabetes

Supported by our Internal Medicine Specialists and our Diabetes Educators

Bariatric Surgery

Supported by our Obesity Medicine Physicians and the Richmond Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program

Mental Health & Wellness

Supported by our team of Mental Health Facilitators

Sleep Apnea

Supported by our Sleep Physician and our Respiratory Therapist

Nutrition, Diet & Food Skills

Dr. Lyon and Veronica Kacinik RD have completed Clinician Chef Coach Training through Harvard School of Public Health

Weight Loss and Weight Maintenance

Supported by our Obesity Medicine Physicians

Physical Activity Groups

Supported by our Kinesiologists and Certified Personal Trainers

Other Medical Concerns

Supported by a variety of our Trained Professionals

Our Team

Dr. Michael R. Lyon, BSc, MD, ABOM

Medical Director

Dr. Lyon is a published researcher in the fields of nutrition, appetite regulation, dietary fiber, and blood sugar regulation. He is Board Certified in Obesity Medicine through the American Board of Obesity Medicine and he completed a three year family practice residency in 1988 and was Board Certified through the American Board of Family Medicine. He has been a National Team Physician and his practice has focused upon sports and fitness medicine, nutrition, lifestyle modification, addictions, mental health, cognitive behavioral therapy and obesity medicine.

See a list of his recent publications

Dr. Michael R. Lyon, BSc, MD, ABOM

Medical Director

Dr. Lyon is a published researcher in the fields of nutrition, appetite regulation, dietary fiber, and blood sugar regulation. He is Board Certified in Obesity Medicine through the American Board of Obesity Medicine and he completed a three year family practice residency in 1988 and was Board Certified through the American Board of Family Medicine. He has been a National Team Physician and his practice has focused upon sports and fitness medicine, nutrition, lifestyle modification, addictions, mental health, cognitive behavioral therapy and obesity medicine.

See a list of his recent publications

Dr. Steve Ligertwood, BSc, MD

Director of Operations

Dr Ligertwood is a Family Practice trained physician who has been a Hospitalist at the Royal Columbian Hospital for over 20 years. During that time his focus has been on developing unique care delivery models for healthcare systems. In addition to his clinical work, he has held leadership positions for the purpose of developing the field of Hospital Medicine in Canada. For the last 10 years his focus has been on developing quality improvement processes for hospitals as well as the development of the unique model of care provided by the Medical Weight Management Program.

Dr. Steve Ligertwood, BSc, MD

Director of Operations

Dr. Ligertwood is a Family Practice trained physician who has been a Hospitalist at the Royal Columbian Hospital for over 20 years. During that time his focus has been on developing unique care delivery models for healthcare systems. In addition to his clinical work, he has held leadership positions for the purpose of developing the field of Hospital Medicine in Canada. For the last 10 years his focus has been on developing quality improvement processes for hospitals as well as the development of the unique model of care provided by the Medical Weight Management Program.


Internal Medicine


Dr. Jacek Cieslak, MD, FRCPC, ABOM

Internal Medicine

Dr. Jeff Kerrie, MD, FRCPC

Internal Medicine

Dr. Jennifer Montis, MD, FRCPC

Internal Medicine

Dr. Alison Walzak, MD, FRCPC

Internal Medicine

Dr. Haerin Kim, MD, FRCPC, ABOM

Internal Medicine

Dr. Sylvie Galindo, MD, FRCPC

Internal Medicine

Family Practice


Dr. Carolyn Feeley, MD

General Family Practice

Dr. Trung Binh Hoang, MD

General Family Practice

Dr. Valerie Imperial, MD

General Family Practice

Dr. Peyman Saleheh-Shoshtari, MD, CCFP

General Family Practice

Dr. Saad Jabbour, MD, ABOM

General Family Practice

Associate Faculty

Click their image to learn more!

Dr. Shauna Correia, B. Eng, MDCM, FRCPC

Psychiatrist and Sexual Medicine Specialist

Dr. Dayna Lee-Baggley, PhD, R. Psych

Registered Clinical Psychologist

Sandra Elia

Food Addiction Counselor

Managers & Supervisors


Veronica I. Kacinik, MSc, RD, PHEc, CDE

Registered Dietitian, Bariatric Program

Carla Obando, RD

Registered Dietitian

Philip Ngo, BSc. Food, Nutrition & Health, ACE Certified Personal Trainer

Manager of Program Operations

Karen Tulloch, BSc. BCAK Registered Kinesiologist

Manager of Program Development and Physician Services

Dr. Soosan Davis, International Medical Graduate, MAS,

(Global Health and Human Services Administration)

Patient Care Manager & Diabetes Educator

Katja Demmer, BSc. Psychology, MSc. Psychology

Mental Health Coach and Group Facilitator

Obesity Medicine Assistants


Dr. Javad Ahmadi, International Medical Graduate

Obesity Medical Assistant

Dr. Alferin Danne, International Medical Graduate

Obesity Medical Assistant

Dr. Fraser Barnes, International Medical Graduate, MBA, DMC

Obesity Medical Assistant

Sydney Overland, BSc. Kinesiology

Obesity Medical Assistant

Cory Lara, BSc. Food, Nutrition, Health, Certified Health Coach

Obesity Medical Assistant

Cindy Chen, BSc. Biomedical Physiology

Senior Obesity Medical Assistant

Denise Maxwell, BSc. Nutrition & Food Science, MSc. Agricultural and Resource Economics, Certified Health Coach

Obesity Medical Assistant

Linda Phan, BSc. Food, Nutrition, Health

Program Administrative Coordinator

Clementine Ng, BSc. Food & Nutritional Sciences

Obesity Medical Assistant

Lydia Ng, HBSc. Neuroscience and Nutritional Sciences

Obesity Medical Assistant

Johan De Haan, BSc. Nutrition & Dietetics

Obesity Medical Assistant

Front Office


Sandra Lyon

Director of Financial Operations

Jemmilee Poblete, BSc.

Medical Office Assistant Supervisor

Trena Logan

Medical Office Assistant

Shayne Balontong

Medical Office Assistant

Kelci Hallworth

Medical Office Assistant

Carrie Parask

Medical Office Assistant

Cibin Benny

Administrative Assistant

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is a group medical visit?

    Group Medical Visits are interactive, educational and skill-based sessions that are an integral part of the patients’ care. Group sizes vary from 30-80 patients depending on the session topic. Patients have the opportunity to share their successes, discuss their challenges and speak with a physician who is always present to oversee the group medical visit.

  • The majority of Group Medical Visits are scheduled during the week in the evenings at 5pm -6:30pm or 6:45 -8:15pm. We will occasionally run group medical visits in the afternoon. Each Group Medical Visit is 90min in duration. GMV times may be subject to change.

  • The clinic is funded through medical billings to BC’s Medical Services Plan, research grants and philanthropic donations. No required costs are incurred to the patient except for the MWM Program Manual. We want this program to be accessible to patients who need it regardless of their income.

  • The success of our program is dependent upon full participation of the patient. If a patient attends consistently, participates in the sessions, reviews the materials at home and applies the knowledge and skills learned in the group medical visits, they usually find that this program is transformative and life changing. Because obesity is a chronic medical disease and requires chronic disease management, the program really never ends. Minimizing further weight gain, maintaining weight or maintaining weight loss is a lifetime commitment and we are here to provide lifelong support to help patients achieve long term benefits from a healthier way of life.

  • We are currently funded to accept patients by doctor refferal from anywhere in BC.

  • General nutritional counseling and education are provided through group medical visits and are billed through MSP. Individuals wishing to see a dietitian at a private cost or are currently referred out to other highly recommended dietitians. Patients participating in the bariatric surgery stream will need to meet with the program dietitian as a part of the necessary requirements for clearance before a referral for surgery is made.

  • Our program does not offer individual counseling. Participants who require additional support in this area are encouraged to look into counselling resources within their community to use in conjunction with our program. We are affiliated with the Canadian Mental Health Association and run an 8-week course based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) principles called Living Life To The Full. Additional mental health programs include an eight week course on advanced stress management. Individuals who are struggling with their mental well being will be encouraged to participate in our mental wellbeing stream.

  • Education on physical activity and the various components of fitness will be provided in the program within the required curriculum. Sessions focused on this area will aim to help participants learn how to exercise safely, monitor their progress, and set fitness goal s to help manage their health, mental well being and weight. There are no workout classes or individual training programs offered at the clinic at this time.

Contact

Location:

1550 United Blvd, Coquitlam, BC, Canada

Call:

(604) 777-5500

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