Your wanting is welcome here

Diet culture shuns appetite

An ethical approach to weight loss makes it your superpower

I’m Dr. Ashley White

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MD CCFP-EM MPH DipABOM

Ethical Obesity Medicine Specialist

I questioned everything in med school. Despite excelling academically, I couldn’t get over the narrow lanes and dated practices that held back patient success.

Then came the warning: "We hope that you do not become a disruptive physician."

I cried that day because I felt like I didn’t belong. I was a neon duck in a sea of regular ducks. 

Turns out, that was my strength, and I’ve been determined to find my place ever since. 

My work is centred on transforming obesity medicine in Canada into something that’s ethical, effective, and finally centred on each patient’s full humanity. 

While the systems we’re in still treat weight as a moral issue, I help people develop sustainable strategies that work with their biology, not against it.

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A few things that have shaped me

I’ve experienced feeling like my appetite was the enemy and my body didn’t belong

  • Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine

  • Grew up in rural Ontario, in a community of about 10 families

  • Worked in Afghanistan during active conflict

  • Designed systems for global health organizations 

  • Served in policy roles at the Public Health Agency of Canada

  • Over a decade of clinical practice in emergency and metabolic medicine

  • Mother of two

Why we need to treat patients as experts in their own experience

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Everyone benefits when patients understand their bodies better—and when practitioners understand metabolic health better.

The world constantly tells patients their efforts and body are the problem. Not true.

My approach treats weight and obesity as a complex medical condition that involves:

  • Genetics

  • Hormones

  • Neuroscience

  • Environmental factors

By shifting away from quick fixes, weight bias, and symptom management, we can create lasting change that honours each person’s individuality.

Reaching an arbitrary number will not make someone’s life better

When a patient comes to my clinical work or joins The Shift System™, their main goal is usually to lose a certain amount of weight. They're accustomed to practitioners asking them about their goals for the scale. 

But the real questions are:

  • Why do you want to lose that amount of weight? What’s the bigger picture?

  • How do you want to live each day? 

  • What would feeling healthier and more energetic mean for you?

Success doesn’t start and end on the scale.  

We need to tap into their values and what motivates them. That’s what allows them to reach a sustainable Life Weight—the weight where their body best supports the life they want to live. 

My stance on weight loss medication: Beyond prescribing

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GLP-1 medications have a place in ethical obesity medicine. When it suits the individual, using evidence-based medical treatments for a medical condition isn’t “cheating.” It’s appropriate care.

That said, we can’t just prescribe and pray they flourish. 

We need to optimize how you work with the medication. 

We address the root causes—hormone regulation, stress response, sleep quality, nutrient deficiencies—and help you understand your changing appetite so you can fuel your body properly.

Free Quiz

Should you be on weight loss medication?

Take this quiz and get a custom email report you can bring to your medical team to start the conversation.

Start the quiz
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I want metabolic medicine to remember its true purpose

  • It’s not to get people down to a certain size. 

  • It’s not shaming them into apologizing for their appetite or weight. 

  • It’s not “eat less, move more.”

Metabolic medicine’s purpose is to help people feel energetic, strong, and optimistic about their future health. It should be both scientifically rigorous and deeply compassionate. That’s The Shift.

“Mom, when you do the things that make you  happy, it makes our family happier.”

— 12-year-old daughter of Julie, The Shift System™ participant

Ethical weight loss supports us all

How I can help you

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Patients

Move from being told “what to do” to understanding why your body responds the way it does. I help you design your own health strategies instead of imposing rigid rules. 

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Work With a Practitioner
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Practitioners

Create care models where both you and your patients thrive. I provide mentorship that prioritizes sustainable practices and rewards relationship-building over volume.

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Companies & Organizations

Add clinical credibility to your innovation and create systems that see employees and customers as whole people. I help you reach your goals while driving real patient outcomes, rather than just checking compliance boxes.

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