How True North Metabolic can help you lose weight

True North Metabolic is a physician-led weight-management clinic serving Kitchener–Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, and surrounding communities in Ontario. Including patient from further west in London, Ontario or east in Toronto/GTA. Our role is to assess your health, understand your goals, and build a plan that fits real life. Some people do well with structured lifestyle changes alone. Others prefer to explore safe, evidence-based medication options. Many benefit from a combination. The process is careful, individualized, and designed to support you over time.

Who we help

Adults and pediatric patients across the Kitchener–Waterloo–Cambridge–Guelph region (and various communities in Ontario) who want a practical, medically supervised approach to weight management. We welcome referrals from family physicians and also specialists. Virtual follow-ups are available for patients across Ontario when clinically appropriate. Understandably, not everyone lives close by and not every single patient needs in-person follow up.

What to expect at your first visit

Your first appointment is about information gathering and planning and taking action on your goals. It typically includes:

• History: weight history, prior approaches that did or did not help, eating patterns, sleep, stress, physical activity, medications, and medical conditions such as prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, fatty liver, or sleep apnea. Knowing your typical daily diet is very important.

• Physical exam: vital signs and a focused exam to help identify medical contributors to weight gain and barriers to activity.

• Pertinent lab tests: ordered as clinically indicated. Common examples include blood sugar and A1c, lipid profile, liver enzymes, kidney function, thyroid testing, fasting insulin levels and other labs when needed.

• Goal setting: we clarify what a good outcome looks like for you. That may be improving energy, reducing medications with your family doctor’s guidance, addressing sleep and blood pressure, or targeting fat loss while preserving strength. The goal is to make realistic adjustments.

We then discuss options in plain language. All plans include education on nutrition, activity, sleep, and behavior. When medications are considered, we review potential benefits, risks, side-effects, and monitoring. Decisions are made with informed consent.

Lifestyle strategies we may discuss

You will not receive a one-size-fits-all meal plan. Instead, we focus on routines that are practical in Kitchener–Waterloo, Cambridge, and Guelph daily life:

• Nutrition structure: protein anchored meals, higher-fiber choices, and a simple approach to restaurant and social eating. Again, being realistic is key. A lot of times making 2-3 simple adjustments is all that is necessary.

• Activity plan: walking goals, basic resistance exercises, and strategies to stay consistent during busy weeks or joint pain flares.

• Sleep and stress: realistic steps that help appetite control and recovery.

• Relapse planning: what to do during holidays, travel, or schedule changes, so progress is maintained.

  
  

Medication options, when appropriate

Many patients prefer to explore prescription options as part of a comprehensive plan. Examples may include GLP-1 receptor agonists, dual-incretin therapies, naltrexone-bupropion, orlistat, or metformin in selected contexts. Medication choice, dose, and duration are individualized, and not every option is suitable for every person. Availability, coverage, side-effects, and monitoring are reviewed before any decision is made. We work to optimize non-medication supports no matter which path you choose.

Follow-up and monitoring

Ongoing care matters. Follow-ups may include:

• Review of progress markers you choose

• Medication monitoring if used, including side-effects, labs when indicated, and continued attention to lifestyle habits.

• Adjustments based on life events, schedules, or medical changes.

• Coordination with your family physician when other medications can be simplified or when new findings need shared care.

Virtual appointments are available for many patients across Ontario once a baseline has been established.

How this approach supports people in the Kitchener–Waterloo–Cambridge–Guelph area

Local routines and resources matter. We design plans around the realities of commuting between Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, and Guelph, variable shift work, and family schedules. Grocery choices, walking routes, gym access, or home-based options are considered. The goal is a plan you can carry through weekdays and weekends in our region, not just for a short challenge.

What success can look like

Success is not a single number. It might be steadier appetite, improved sleep, fewer evening cravings, better activity tolerance, or gradual reductions in cardiometabolic risk markers under the care of your primary physician. For some, it includes weight change supported by medication. For others, it is lifestyle only. We set expectations together and measure progress in ways that are meaningful to you.

Safety and transparency

True North Metabolic follows evidence-informed care. We discuss reasonable benefits and potential risks, encourage questions, and provide written information about any therapy being considered. There are no guarantees of specific results, and no pressure to start medication. If a service is not appropriate for your situation, we will explain why and suggest alternatives or collaborate with your existing care team.

Getting started

If you live in Kitchener–Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, or a nearby community in Ontario and want a structured, physician-led approach to weight management, you can contact us to schedule an initial assessment or speak with your family physician about a referral. Before your first visit, consider bringing a list of current medications, recent lab results if available, and a short note about your goals. The more we understand your day-to-day routine, the better we can tailor the plan.

Key points to remember

• Care is individualized and evidence-based.

• Lifestyle strategies are the foundation.

• Medications may be considered when appropriate, with informed consent and monitoring.

• Follow-up and support are built in, with virtual options across Ontario when clinically suitable.

• Goals are defined by you and reviewed together.

  
  

True North Metabolic is here to provide careful assessment, clear education, and ongoing support for patients in the Kitchener–Waterloo–Cambridge–Guelph region and beyond. If you are ready to explore a structured path that fits your life, we are ready to help you plan it.