Pharmacist-led weight management clinic
Obesity is a growing public health concern. In 2017, Health Canada reported that 64% of Canadian adults are considered to be overweight or obese. Obesity is defined as an excessive or abnormal fat accumulation that presents a health risk; it can lead to the development of a number of chronic diseases such as high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, and some cancers. Obesity is caused by many factors which, can vary significantly between people.
Research has shown that losing as little as 5% of a persons’ baseline weight can provide significant health benefits. Losing weight and keeping weight off long-term is difficult and requires a comprehensive approach including support with dietary patterns, activity, and emotional wellbeing. Further tools such as medications and/or surgery may be used to support an individuals’ weight-loss journey.
Pharmacists are the most accessible health care providers and Apothecare Pharmacy provides Canada's first Pharmacist-led Weight Management Clinic. This clinical pharmacy program is overseen by our pharmacist co-founder Dan who has over 5 years of experience in managing patients with obesity and supporting their weight-loss efforts. Dan was one of the first pharmacists in Canada to obtain the designation of a ‘Certified Bariatric Educator’ (CBE) from Obesity Canada in 2017. He has also obtained further designations in Nutrition and Health Coaching. International studies have demonstrated the benefit of a pharmacist-led Weight Management Clinic and reported patients losing a minimum of 3.6 kg, or 8 lbs, over a 6-month period.
Our approach is holistic and utilizes evidence-based medicine to coach and empower patients to lose weight in a manner that is safe, practical, and sustainable. Our program reviews your dietary patterns, activity, mental well being, and if appropriate, we may prescribe medications to assist with weight loss. In addition, we will use an InBody© scale to monitor your weight and body composition throughout your journey. Our pharmacists will also ensure your family doctor and other members of your health care team are kept up to date on your progress through our program.
Our program is offered at no direct cost to you* and includes:
- Motivational interviewing techniques
- Basic review of your dietary patterns and daily food intake
- Review of your activity level
- Screening for various mental health conditions such as binge eating disorder or depression
You will be provided with:
- 8 follow-up visits
- 3 complimentary InBody© scale measurements to track your progress*
- Personalized basic dietary and activity recommendations*
- Strategies to empower you to remain engaged with our program including how to navigate different environments such as eating out or during times of stress
- Screening for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and osteoporosis
- Comprehensive medication review
No referral is needed to be a patient in our weight management program. Our current wait time is less than 4 weeks.
If you would like to book an initial consultation, please call us at 403-993-6678.
Fees:
- Follow-up visits after the eighth visit are $50 each
- Additional InBody© scale measurements are $50 each
- Advanced nutritional coaching that includes detailed macronutrient breakdown per meal is available for $100 per appointment
Disclaimer:
Changing any aspect of your lifestyle and losing weight takes effort. By law, we can not guarantee or promise any specific results.
References:
- Tackling Obesity in Canada. Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/obesity-excess-weight-rates-canadian-adults.html
- Haverkamp K, Newberry P, Baker J. Impact of a pharmacist-run weight loss medication management service. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2022 May-Jun;62(3):883-888.
