The MedExpress Blog: Health in Focus

Health doesn't have to be complicated, that's one of our core principles. Here we explain everything important about your health: from lifestyle topics to practical information on various treatment options.

Dr. Ashley White

Medical Lead

Weight Loss Sexual Health

Weight Loss

Articles about weight loss

Strength Training For Weight Loss: Why Building Muscle Can Support Your Weight Management Journey

Discover how strength training for weight loss, protein intake and regular walking can support healthy weight management.

Reading time: 6 minutes

Person standing with suitcase and passport in the airport

Flying with Weight Loss Medications: A Canadian Guide to Airport Security and Travel

Reading time: 7 minutes

Canadian man researching different weight loss injections

Ozempic vs Wegovy vs Generic Semaglutide: What's the Difference?

Reading time: 9 minutes

Doctor speaking to patient prior to surgery

Surgical Prehabilitation: How Optimizing Your Weight Before Surgery Leads to Better Outcomes

Reading time: 6 minutes

Canadian clinical experts by your side

Dr. Ashley White

Medical Lead

MD MPH CCFP-EM DipABOM

CPSO: 106048

Ashley is a doctor with 10 years of clinical experience, with expertise in public health and global health program implementation. She is committed to scaling safe, accessible virtual care for our patients. With dual certifications in family and emergency medicine and board certification in obesity medicine, she leads the Canadian medical team to ensure we're delivering high-quality medical care.

Dr. Megha Poddar

Endocrinology Advisor

MD FRCPC ABOM

CPSO: 93361

Dr. Megha Poddar is an endocrinologist and obesity medicine specialist in Canada with extensive experience leading clinical and educational initiatives in metabolic health. She serves as Medical Director of an interdisciplinary national obesity program that integrates behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy, and she is a co-author of the 2025 Canadian Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines and the global ICHOM obesity data set standardized PROMs. At nymble Health, she is developing innovative digital platforms to support patient education, adherence, and long-term outcomes. Dr. Poddar is a global thought leader in advancing access to evidence-based obesity care, with a focus on integrating GLP-1 therapies into specialty practice.

Dr. Zainab Najarali

Lead Prescriber

MD CCFP-EM

CPSO: 115158

Dr. Zainab Najarali is a full-time Emergency Medicine physician practicing in the Greater Toronto Area and a Family Medicine–trained physician in Canada, with extensive experience in virtual care delivery, clinical governance, and digital prescribing. She serves as Lead Prescriber for HeliosX in Canada, where she provides medical oversight for scalable, evidence-based prescribing across multiple digital health platforms. In addition to her role at HeliosX, Dr. Najarali also operates a women’s health practice focused on menopause management and hormone therapy. She is an Assistant Professor at McMaster University, and is actively involved in medical education, and digital health innovation, with a particular interest in expanding access to evidence-based metabolic and women’s health care through responsible use of technology.

Roger Firsoff, NP

Prescriber

Nurse Practitioner

CNO: 9602160

Roger Firsoff is a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner with 24 years of experience in primary and urgent care, emergency medicine, occupational health, and addictions and mental health. He has a particular focus in men’s health, including sexual health, hair loss, and testosterone therapy. A graduate of Ryerson University and the University of Toronto, he holds both Primary Care and Adult Nurse Practitioner specialties. Roger has instructed and supervised Nurse Practitioner students at York University and Ryerson University for the past 15 years, is affiliated with Athabasca University, and holds Nurse Practitioner registration in multiple Canadian provinces.

Karlie DeAngelis, NP

Prescriber

Nurse Practitioner

CNO: 13551836

Karlie DeAngelis, NP is a Nurse Practitioner licensed across Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and additional Canadian provinces, with a background in advanced cardiovascular care, critical care, migraine, and mental health management. She specializes in evidence-based metabolic and weight management care. She serves as a Prescriber with HeliosX in Canada, and supports safe, evidence-based care within established clinical governance frameworks. Outside of her work with HeliosX, Karlie practices in mid-life women’s health and menopause care. She holds specialty certification in Canadian Cardiovascular Nursing and is a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP). Karlie is a Lecturer at the University of Toronto Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing and has previously taught at Conestoga College and Humber College. Her published research includes work on high-functioning teams in critical care and paediatric end-of-life care.