Centre of Excellence in Adolescent Severe Obesity
First appointment
Healthcare professionals: To send a referral, see details below.
If you wish to cancel an appointment, you must let us know at least 24 hours in advance. To ensure your place in the clinic, you cannot miss or cancel appointments more than twice.
For more information, please contact us by phone or email.
Send your request
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The Centre of Excellence in Adolescent Severe Obesity (CEASO) is dedicated to improving the lives and well-being of adolescents living with severe obesity. Obesity is recognized as a chronic disease that affects more than 1 in 10 children in Canada. It can affect other systems in the body and can even lead to death if it is not managed.
Services
Obesity is a complex condition influenced by environmental, social, familial and personal factors. It is not solved with ‘quick fix’ approaches. We offer patients a long-term, integrated treatment and management strategy that promotes overall health and well-being. It includes:
- A full assessment that includes the physical, psychosocial and mental health consequences of the chronic disease.
- A variety of interventions aimed at producing behavioural changes that can lead to improved health.
- Referrals to community partners for ongoing support.
- A pathway towards bariatric surgery, which is now understood to be an effective intervention for some patients.
- Help with the transition to adult care for patients needing continued follow-up.
All new CEASO patients and their families start with our online educational sessions delivered by our clinical team members. Once the sessions are complete, families take part in a full assessment that will identify the best treatment plan for the patient. The assessment includes:
- blood work
- mental health and lifestyle questionnaires
- a baseline clinic appointment
After the assessment, the families and the clinical team together will choose between one of the following:
- Behaviour lifestyle intervention pathway
- Bariatric surgery pathway
Referrals
Any physician can make a referral to the Centre of Excellence in Adolescent Severe Obesity (CEASO). The patient must:
- be 13 years or older
- have a BMI of >35 kg/m2
- have major comorbidities
If neither of these is right for the patient, CEASO will advise the family on how to find support and resources outside of the clinic.
To refer a patient, please complete this referral form and attach it to the form below.
Healthcare professional referral – CEASO
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Team
Doctors
Dr. Julius Erdstein
Adolescent Medicine Physician
Dr. Laurent Legault
Physician
Dr. Jessica Monteiro
Physician
Dr. Holly Agostino
Physician
Nurse
Julie Fortin
Nurse
Ashley O’Reilly
Nurse
Healthcare Specialist
Peggy Alcindor
Dietitian
Tal Brandis
Dietitian
Trisha Chloe Baluyot
Kinesiologist
Shannon McShane
Physiotherapist
Sally Cooke
Art Therapist
Emma Kruger
Social Worker
Research
Our specialists are often pursuing research projects and collaborating with faculty members at universities across Canada. Families may be approached about participation in research aimed at improving our knowledge and treatment of patients living with severe obesity. Participation in research is not required and refusal to be part of a study will not affect treatment in any way.
*If you are a student looking for research opportunities to volunteer or work with our team, please email Dr. Carla Farnesi: [email protected]
Our research team members include:
Dr. Carla Farnesi, CEASO Research Project Manager, MUHC
Dr. Angela Alberga, CEASO Research Lead, Kinesiology & Psychosocial health, Concordia University
Dr. Tamara Cohen, CEASO Research Co-Lead & Registered Dietitian, Eating Behaviours & Nutrition, UBC, External affiliate member, McGill University
Ms. Trisha Baluyot, CEASO Research Assistant & Registered Kinesiologist, Concordia University & MUHC
Mr. Hector Silva, MSc student, Concordia University