Helping you lose excess weight and reconnect to your healthier, happier self.

Food should never be penance. The food we eat should be our remedy.

Food should be our medicine. Restrictive eating, dieting, strict calorie counting, and elimination diets are not methods in our practice. Our goal is to make you fall in love with minimally processed, whole, real foods you actually enjoy and to improve your relationship with food.

MEET YOUR physician

Dr. Viktoriya Yanchuk

Hi, I’m Viktoriya Yanchuk. I am board-certified in obesity medicine, internal medicine, and nephrology. I’m a clinical assistant professor, a lecturer at the Keck School of Medicine and a published author. I also love to paint, garden, and connect with nature. I’m here as your partner and guide when it comes to getting serious about health and weight loss.

I truly see you and understand you.

Starting my career as a nephrologist (kidney specialist), I witnessed a troubling trend: younger patients facing severe kidney issues due to metabolic diseases like diabetes and obesity. Many sought advice too late to avoid dialysis.

This led me to explore Obesity and Lifestyle Medicine, which aims to intervene earlier and promote overall well-being by addressing physiological, environmental, behavioral, and social factors.

I'm here to guide you toward a path of flourishing independence through health and wellness.

Conditions We Treat

  • Obesity

  • Metabolic syndrome

  • Overweight/Preobesity

  • Prediabetes

  • Monogenetic obesity, such as MC4R mutation

  • Genetic obesity syndromes

  • Normal weight obesity

  • Binge eating disorder

  • Night eating syndrome

  • Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly called fatty liver disease or NAFLD

  • Post-bariatric surgery status

  • Post-bariatric surgery weight regain

  • Pre-bariatric surgery preparation

  • Weight management in obstructive sleep apnea

  • Post-menopausal weight gain

  • PCOS-associated weight gain

  • Drug-induced obesity

WHAT SETS US APART

  • 01 | PERSONALIZED HEALTHCARE

    Obesity represents a complex and persistent chronic disease that requires a holistic and personalized approach. In contrast to one-size-fits-all packages, our program tailors its strategy to suit your needs. We base our prescriptive lifestyle intervention on you, with your cultural background, identity, and life rhythm in mind. We also utilize a phenotype-based approach to treatment: hungry gut, hungry brain, emotional eating, and slow burn because we know every body is different. Each treatment plan will be different. We are committed to supporting you every step of the way, providing you with a precise and bespoke roadmap to wellness, celebrating your successes, and helping you overcome obstacles.

  • 02 | THE D.O. DIFFERENCE

    As an osteopathic physician (D.O.), Dr. Yanchuk firmly believes in the philosophy of osteopathic medicine: 1. The body is a unit; the person is a unit of body, mind, and spirit. 2. The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing, and health maintenance. 3. Structure and function are reciprocally interrelated. 4. Rational treatment is based upon an understanding of the basic principles of body unity, self-regulation, and the interrelationship of structure and function.

  • 03 | HOLISTIC WELLNESS

    We understand that obesity and metabolic disease require a whole-body and whole-person approach. Here, you will discover a method based on the four pillars of obesity medicine treatment: optimizing dietary patterns, engaging in enjoyable movement, using medication to readjust your weight set point, and, critically, modifying behavior patterns. We will dig deep to uncover your roadblocks to optimal health. You will not hear talks of willpower here.

  • 04 | LIFESTYLE MEDICINE

    Lifestyle medicine promotes a holistic and empowering approach to health, centered around six science-backed pillars tailored to individual needs, emphasizing wellness and prevention. The approach encourages a plant-predominant diet with whole foods, regular physical activity suited to personal preferences, prioritizing restorative sleep, managing stress with gentle practices, fostering nurturing social connections, and mindfully avoiding harmful substances. This comprehensive framework advocates for a compassionate and preventive stance towards health, recognizing the importance of daily habits and decisions in achieving optimal wellness and highlighting that health is a continuous journey rather than a fixed goal.

  • 05 | TRANSFORMATION

    True sustainable change is achievable with the right approach. Quick fixes and fad diets only lead to disappointment. We utilize psychology-backed techniques like SMART goals, mindset shifts, and collaborative visits to transform your health.

a little more about me

  • From wildflower viewing at a local garden to hikes in the Angeles National Forest, nature walks are one of my most rejuvenating practices.

  • This painting was inspired by the hummingbirds that frequent my garden.

  • Nothing tastes as good as a fresh tomato you just picked off the vine. Woody herbs, roses, nasturtium, and cherry tomatoes are staples in my garden.

HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER