2024 was my year of transformation, thanks to the help and support of the counselors and staff at Jump Start in Piedmont. While weight loss is never easy, the methodical approach, education, and accountability baked into the program proved to be a winning combination for me. In fact, my weight loss has been so dramatic that several of my friends signed on this year and also met with fantastic results. The science behind weight loss has never been more promising, so stop procrastinating and put yourself first. It's time. Julie G. read more

If you need hand-holding during your weight loss journey, this might be the place for you. Monthly costs are high, even at the lowest level, which is one short visit a month. Communications with the provider group are weak. It takes some time for questions to be adequately answered. My impression is that the providers are stretched thin between all the various offices. Do you want to investigate hormone therapy? That will be an additional charge. I wasn't getting value for the amount of money I was paying out. And now that compounding pharmacies might not be able to provide compounded Ozempic and Tirzepatide, I don't see a reason to use this medical group. read more

Tamar, the member care coordinator at Grand ave location is simply the best. She makes the work flow seamless and easy but she works hard to make it so. The place fell apart the day she was sick. Dellgent, professional yet personable. Makes your visit pleasant. read more

I've had amazing success with JumpStart MD. Having an immune condition as well as being perimenopausal, I was exhausted all the time and could barely get out of bed. With the whole-body approach at jumpstart, I have more energy than I have in years. I'm even back to dancing! Highly recommended if other methods haven't worked for you. read more

I have a friend who used to work here, she assured me that Jumpstart did not have good programming but I gained some weight during the pandemic and a different friend was starting Jumpstart so I thought I'd give it a try. After one month my friend canceled her membership bc it was too expensive and "not worth it". I hung in a bit longer. Turns out that the "support sessions" are only 15 minutes long. This is just enough time for them to sell you some shots and give you some printed information. This is not the kind of support that anyone struggling enough with weightloss to spend over $300/mo needs. I went on vacation and told my coach I'd be gone for 2 weeks. My membership was not put on hold. In fact, I was charged on my vacation. When I came back I told them that I wanted to discontinue services because I didn't find the service to be very helpful (and certainly not worth the money). They told me that I had to give 30 days notice. So, that day I gave my 30 days notice. Then they told me that the 30 days can't start until after I make ANOTHER payment. That's when I decided to write a review. If this company believed in their own services they wouldn't need to get their money through unfair membership "policies". That, and you would do better learning about keto and hiring a therapist on your own. Highly unimpressed. Do not spend your money here! read more

Let me first start by saying Erika is an extremely great health coach. Five Stars for her. She is knowledgeable and will help support you in reaching your health goals in a positive manner. I wanted to post an honest review up because after a couple of months of being part of the program I am finding that the cost outweighs the benefits. I am rating the overall service 2 stars due to the inflexibility of the program and because I felt misled on the program benefits. I also had some negative experiences. I hope everyone stays informed and makes the decision that meets their goals and budget. ...Cost... The 6 month plan puts me back about $300-400/mo. What I ended up paying for was mainly nutritional education and accountability. If I calculated right the cost is about $5.50 per minute of 1:1 time. ....Not so great experience 1... I was recommended a hunger suppressant by the clinic's Physician Assistant one of my first visits. After gaining second opinions from two Medical Doctors, I decided not to take any prescribed medications due to potential side effects and reported short-term gains. Because the drug was a highly regulated stimulant, my local pharmacy actually would not distribute the product, so that was another barrier too. Although, the program is "medically supervised" I only met with the PA once. I felt pressure to start medications and vitamin injections ( +$$) right away, but I am glad I got advice from my primary MDs to hold off. So perhaps the program would be worth it for someone who is interested in taking weight-loss drugs and vitamin shots? ....Not so great structure, especially given the world we live in today.... Unfortunately, the program is structured in a way for in-person meetings, thus if you are risk-adverse of catching COVID or if you are out of town taking care of loved ones, you wouldn't get the equivalent service you would get in person. I, unfortunately, was led to believe the level of service would be the same, so I continued my membership. Unfortunately, being part of the program remotely felt very wrong and costly. Learning materials such as their guidebook was received late. I had a session on portion sizes which was extremely difficult to visualize, additionally, I had to follow up to schedule my appts. Another downside is that you don't get line of sight of what you are supposed to be learning each week. There is not really a syllabus of topics, so it was really hard identifying materials I needed and which weeks I could take remotely. From what I've been told I can't cancel immediately the month of, nor can I "pause" my membership. I am still working with the team on this one, but for now, I am locked in paying for services I feel I didn't fully receive and potentially paying for next month for services I won't receive. If this company believed in their own services they wouldn't need to get their money through unfair membership "policies". The membership policies are not friendly and it is unclear who the decision-maker is to grant exceptions so if you are looking to cancel you might end up feeling helpless like me ....But this could be for you.... The first few weeks can be educational if you want to learn their take on weight loss nutrition ( restrictive diet/ low carb), but from there the program curriculum feels less educational. The next meetings after week 4ish were 15-minute check-ins. I'd say if you want help on nutrition or want to take weight-loss drugs or want to pay a high cost for accountability this may be for you. I have found a balanced diet, caloric tracking on my Fitness Pal and focus on physical activity to be the sustainable way to unlock weight loss. read more

I am a Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) client at JumpstartMD's Piedmont office. I have been in menopause for a few years and have tried to address my weight gain and insulin resistance, hair loss, low libido, poor sleep, and sluggish thyroid function on my own with moderate results. It wasn't until I finally decided to try BHRT at JumpstartMD that moved the needle. I'm thrilled with my results after being on BHRT just over a year. I've been able to sleep through the night, I've lost nearly 40 lbs, my libido has improved and my hair loss has improved as well. It turns out the missing link to making any progress was my hormone imbalance due to menopause, and BHRT eliminated the obstacles to achieving my results. Priscilla Brown, the Nurse Practitioner in the Piedmont Office has been thorough in her assessments during my quarterly visits. The BHRT care team I've had contact with have always been very friendly and accommodating with scheduling appointments, especially Melissa Myhre who often assists Pricilla with BHRT insertions too. I'm very happy with the way I feel and look these days. read more

JumpstartMD worked for me. I lost 38 lbs in 6 months. I'm in my late 40's, and felt really helpless with my weight. Nothing that I used to do was working anymore. The program is essentially low carb -- which I never thought I could do. I was a carb lover. I realized, however, that I needed to do something drastic because my body had become super resistant to weight loss. I followed the program religiously and it worked! And -- honestly -- once I decided to do it, it was EASY! I lost every week. Working out is part of it, but the loss mainly comes from food choices. I mainly walked (got my steps) and that was enough to succeed. If you are at a certain BMI, you can be eligible for prescriptions to help you. I was, and I used a prescription (the lowest possible dose) for the first 3 months, but then I decided to forego it for the last 3 months -- and still continued losing on the same trajectory. I never had any injections. I was never pressured to do that, and there wasn't any upselling. In my view, the program is pretty scientific. There isn't a lot of "rah rah, you can do it." Rather, it's what are you putting into your body, how your body reacts to certain foods, and then discussion of any necessary tweaks to make sure you are progressing. Bottom line -- you have to do the work and commit. If you do, you will succeed. read more

The Jumpstart program saved me! The awesome team at Piedmont helped me immensely to get my health and weight in check. When I started the program, I was a bit skeptical, but then I started to see changes with my body and energy levels in only two weeks. The Jumpstart team are dedicated and committed to helping their patients reach their goals. The weekly check ins kept me accountable with my progress as well as the one on one consultations. I am happy to say that I started my journey at 252 and now I am at 190 with blood work that has improved greatly. I have not reached my goal weight YET, but I know that because of Jumpstart's Piedmont team I am confident I will get there and have LASTING results. Thank you Jumpstart! S.S read more

Ok, one month into it and here's what I find: 1. Nothing personalized--it's Atkins based 900 calorie/day diet. If you follow it faithfully, you will lose weight. 2. Nothing notable in the weekly meetings--15 minutes of weighing in, chit chat about "how's it going" and a B12 shot if you want to pay $20 for it. 3. Big focus on prescription appetite suppressants (diet pills). I have been offered diet pills at every single session. I asked how many people who come here do NOT want the prescription appetite suppressants--turns out virtually everyone who can take them does. If you want diet pills and if you're healthy enough to take them, you will be given a prescription, no questions asked. Maybe that's why people come here? Bottom line-- if you have great health insurance that will cover most of these visits, it's worth it to have a weekly weigh in to keep you accountable. If you don't, then Weight Watchers is a MUCH cheaper approach that is nutritionally sound and will get you to the same results--an average of 2 pounds per week weight loss if you faithfully follow the plan and exercise reasonably. read more

I cannot say enough nice things about the JumpstartMD office in Piedmont. The staff there has been key to my success with the program. You are treated with positive enthusiasm and genuine care and they see you as a individual. During our recent lockdown they went above and beyond to ensure that I had everything I needed for success. (Good thing - the stress of the lockdown situation could have easily resulted in a big slippage - who hasn't mainlined a few Cheetos out of stress?) I consider them true partners in my program. It is rare to find professionals who truly listen to feedback and act on it but this team does exactly that. As to the program itself, it is really the most effective way for me to lose weight. It is very easy to follow and I find it has plenty of good options for meals. I think a lot of people would find the low carb thing challenging but you really stop craving them relatively quickly. I feel physically good on it. I also found it very simple to manage in restaurants. I've lost 60+ pounds and have a little more to go but am confident that I will meet my goal. Like most programs, if you actually follow it, it works! There are slow downs and changes along the way but if you stick with it you make progress. read more

Jumpstart Piedmont is a welcoming, supportive environment for weight loss. This is a good program for people struggling with sugar-cravings and high blood sugar. The program uses straightforward, proven weight loss strategies focusing on healthy, whole foods and accountability. No shortcuts or false promises in this program. For anyone ready to begin a healthier lifestyle, Jumpstart may be the program for you. read more

I have been a client with Jumpstart for many years. It has kept me on track and aware of my overall health. The clinicians are wonderful and so helpful. I feel incredible comfortable there. I would recommend any of their services. read more

If you are serious about making lasting and positive changes to your health, including weigh loss, improved blood work and a healthier lifestyle, check out the Piedmont office of JumstartMD. They take a scientific and research-based approach to diet and health and have assembled an amazing team (Katrina, Erika and Devin) of dedicated professionals in the fields of medicine, nutrition, diet and fitness. The program is tailored to each individual's heath goals and is constantly adjusted as your body changes during the process. Does it work? I'm 68 years old, I've lost 60 pounds of fat (65 pounds in total), 15 inches around my waist (from 50 inches to 35), my cholesterol levels are in the excellent range (I was pre-diabetes when I started), have much more energy and am as strong as when I was in my 20's. My current goal is to maintain my weight at 175 while losing fat and gaining muscle. You eat real food, although the ratio of proteins-to-fats-to-carbs will change and you will learn about portion control. Basically, JS promotes a ketonic (fat burning) diet -- a low-carb, moderate protein, high good fat approach, then adjusts the ratio of proteins, carbs and fat to your specific needs. They test your blood, have state-of-the-art body scanning machines to monitor the changes in your body (fat, muscle, water), test for ketosis, have a full array of nutritional supplements, recipes, reading materials and a renown physician (Dr. Krauss) on staff, if needed. It is the polar opposite of those calorie counting, one-size-fits-all, rah-rah programs that often depend on fake foods to achieve results. Regarding several negative reviews on Yelp. many of those were written before Katrina put her current team in place and reflect interactions with former receptionists, rather than the program itself. The entire staff is cordial, supportive and enthusiastic. In short, those problems have been fixed and the program is now firing on all cylinders. read more

I was seriously about to review with 2 stars but then magic happened!! I had appt scheduled on a Thursday, couldn't make it. Called to reschedule. NO ANSWER. Ok, ok I'll leave vm. They promise to call back by end of work day. No call back. Call again. No answer, vm again. Wait 4 days. Call back again, VOICEMAIL again. Called Friday, finally! They pick up. Schedule me 1 WEEK OUT. With this I miss 2 weeks of service I had already paid for!! I keep my appointment thinking I am going to cancel service. I go in and front desk along with a technician save the day!! Made up for my inconvenience. Won't give details as I know each scenario is different and I don't want any one barging in there requesting such accommodations. Front desk made a comment about emailing. I appreciated it and think it is a good idea. BUT I had no clue that was an option. SUGGESTION. Say that in the voicemail instead of promising you will call back. read more

This is a really late review - my experience is several years old, so maybe JumpStartMd has improved. I did not have a good experience though. I followed the program closely for nine weeks and did lose weight, however the experience left me weaker and badly fatigued for months and months afterwards. So much for help from the medical oversight. I also found the staff really disengaged (I saw two different counselors / nutritionists for the once weekly meetings). The program itself is not that different from many lower carb diets. Bottom line, expensive and potentially medically not advised for some people, and you can get the diet info elsewhere. I did see a lot of great looking people exiting the office and believe it can be helpful for people, but I found it expensive, disappointing, and,unfortunately, physically damaging for me. read more

I was so excited to start my new year with Jumpstart MD after suffering a debilitating injury that prevented me from engaging in my usual workouts. I was a bit dismayed that it took over a week for them to respond to my initial phone inquiry, but I was still motivated to move forward. My initial intake was relatively quick, in fact, faster than my previous experience at a previous office. I was disappointed that I didn't receive the branded diet book, instead, she gave me a a thin folder with inserts for shopping suggestions. No detailed diet, portions, etc. just an overview of the Keto diet. I prefer to have my blood drawn at Quest, so I was told that they would send the order electronically. I arrived at Quest at 7am the following day (as the labs require fasting) and was told that they didn't have my lab request. The clerk said that Jumpstart frequently does that and offered to call them for me. It has now been 4 days and JumpstartMD still hasn't sent the request. I also asked for the diet supplement and was told that I had to see a qualified clinician. Why didn't I see a "qualified clinician" on my initial visit??? They were willing to inject me and run other tests, but deny access to the very thing that they boast: a doctor/Np? This week has been a set-back, not a "jumpstart!" I've had to repeatedly contact the office (my calls keep rolling over) and I don't feel supported at all. For those of you who need to lose weight, you know how difficult both personal and external factors are in your journey. I was looking for a straightforward plan supported by qualified staff and all I received was an overvIew of the Keto diet, NO EXPLANATION of the vitamins or supplements that I need to support that plan and a promise to provide a more detailed diet in 30 days when they bill for another month! In fact, there's an entire wall adorned with books, supplements and diet foods that was never explained or marketed to me. Why have these products if you don't explain or share them? I feel like an idiot for paying $388 for a less than detailed view of a popular diet and no other support. They never sent my labs, I'm fatigued and suffering from headaches and don't want to continue a program with people whom I don't trust. However, I don't want to waste my money either. This program was the worst possible start to my year. I wouldn't have spent the money if I felt like I was capable of doing this on my own. If you're in the same place in life, JumpstartMD is not the place for you. read more

I give JS Piedmont 3.5 stars actually. First & foremost: you WILL lose weight! A lot, and fast. However based on my experiences with them, my recommendations are: -Get estimates for all the blood work ($$$) but worth it to find out my thyroid was a bit low. -Check the charges every month. After I lost the weight, I was supposed to go into "Maintenance" at a lower monthly rate, but was continued to be charged the full rate. -Check the expiration dates and the seals on the meds sold in the lobby. I went home with a box of prebiotics that was already opened and missing half the packets. -Check the expiration dates of the food sold in the lobby. Expired bars continued to be available for sale even after I notified them. Location is convenient and staff is pleasant enough. Dr. Bourke is fantastic. read more

If you are serious about losing weight, I highly recommend The Piedmont Jump Start M.D. The entire staff are the most caring and very professional team. They encouraged me the entire time. I got my body back and I feel terrific. My blood work has improved to a healthier status and my energy level is far better now. In 4 months I have lost almost 30 lbs. Due to everything that I learned through the staff, I am confident that I will continue to live a much more healthy lifestyle. Thank you to all of you! read more

Dr. Bourke and his team at jumpstartMD are amazing and have transformed/saved my life! I have been a client of jumpstartmd since 2012 when I lost my first 45 pounds through the program. Despite my loss of weight, my energy levels stayed very low and after many tests, I found out my thyroid levels were slightly off. An endocrinologist wouldn't help me because she said they were too close to normal to mess with them. I restarted the program in September of 2016 after dealing with the loss of my mother last year to lung cancer. Since then, I have lost 32 pounds, but still have low energy levels. Dr Bourke has worked with my hormone levels and is the first person to actually help me get my life back. It's been 5 years since I've had energy to function properly dealing with life struggles, and I'm so happy to have him and his team on my side watching out for me. This may seem like a fantastic weight loss program that focuses on teaching you how to eat healthy proteins and provides medication to assist you with your appetite, but it is much ore than that. They look at all of your labs and not only hep you lose the weight, but try to get to the source of the problem and correct it so the weight doesn't come back on. i would highly recommend this program to any of my friends. I go to the piedmont location. I have read reviews about different locations. Piedmont has several clinicians. Katrina is amazing! Others over there, not so much. Very pushy and demanding. Ask for katrina and you'll be taken care of:) read more

I had a terrible experience today. I used to go to the Walnut Creek office changed to Piedmont. They are not as friendly. Also today my blood pressure was up and this happened before the counselor did not take into consideration the stress I have have had for the past few weeks. I have been a patient since June 2012 but today I quit I don't like to be lectured I am an adult. read more

Professional and informative staff, very friendly. I'm in my second month, and it's worth the journey.

I've been going to Jumpstart now for a month and a half and am pretty happy with the program. I know that with a program like this, clients experiences can be really affected by the individual staff members. So I'd like to give 5 stars and a glowing recommendation to Zoey (may be wrong spelling) Davis. She is an excellent nutrionist and wellness coach and has always given me true empathetic support, as well as excellent suggestions on keeping on track. I really appreciate and recommend her! read more

This has been a delightful and highly supportive place to work towards healthier eating and lower weight. So far 9 weeks in and 16 pounds lost. JMD is an honest, professional, medical environment, not a cult or a cheerleading establishment and I appreciate that. I would like to politely disagree with the other reviewer who complained of harsh treatment. It is difficult to lose weight, at least for me, and I appreciate the supportive environment, thoughtful advice and kindness of the staff. read more

The JumpstartMD program has been my lifesaver... but the Piedmont staff has been my lifeboat. It is NOT a diet factory pushing you through a process; it is a small office where every staff member is committed to finding a way that the program can work for you. No value judgments, no opinions just support. Each clinician brings a different set of skills so they provide a well-balanced approach to help you discover what are the strengths and weaknesses in your eating habits. I travel frequently for my work so with their help and guidance I have been able to remain on track. Their programs goal is to help you find what works best for you. I have never felt rushed during my appointments nor discounted nor ignored when dealing with any psycho social or medical issue. Katrina will take as much time with you answering and explaining and questions you might have concerning any medical issues, Devin has spent many appointments helping me work out the conversion on recipes or telling me of new recipes I should try and Erika has provided the strongest emotional support when I have hit a plateau. With this program's ongoing medical component the clinicians provide feedback on both your INbody evaluation and your lab testing. The JumpstartMD website is available to show you a complete record of your progress. The website also includes recipes and supporting shopping lists for ease. One year later 100 lbs. lighter. read more

This program and this location is great. It took a while to get there but I, with the help of JumpstartMD, got to my goal weight. But here's the thing, prior to that, they helped me realize what my ideal and healthy goal weight should be. Let me stress that again, HEALTHY weight. It's easy to say what my ideal weight is but I'm just basing it on unrealistic and unhealthy views I have about weight and body type. JumpstartMD broke it all down for me, evaluating my muscle mass, fat percentage, blood work and everything in between. Then they suggested what my goal should be. And it felt achievable! It took me a while to get there and, I'm not going to lie, I was discouraged at some points and even left for a couple of months to give myself a break. But when my weight started to creep up and up, I knew that I needed to buckle down, go back and do the hard work. The hard work is recognizing what keeps me in ketosis. I've been on maintenance now for six months and am so thankful to JumpstartMD. I haven't been at this weight in 10 years. I believe they were also the catalyst in being healthier, in general. I'm no longer sedentary (it was very challenging finding to workout after 2 kids) and now cook regularly. A big feat considering I've never liked cooking and I also work full-time. I'm thankful for this program AND for my employer who subsidizes a large portion of the fee so I can afford it. read more

I have struggled with my weight since I hit puberty. I tried every diet imaginable in my teens and twenties. Later, I did Weight Watchers. I made my goal with considerable obsessing about food and feeling hungry a lot of the time. It went back on fairly quickly. Finally, I decided to accept myself the way I AM. Now 71, I became more interested in health and mobility than my looks. I watched a friend who had struggled like me while she did JumpStart for six months. It's the only program I've seen her stick with. She'd lost 25 pounds then (now has lost 45). I decided I would try my last "diet." I'm incredibly grateful for this program. I've lost close to thirty pounds since the end of February. I feel good. I'm not hungry. I eat REAL food and not a lot of processed junk (like WW promoted with its program). I've had no sugar in months and I don't miss it. Cravings are gone. I love JumpStart. read more

If you want to lose weight with Jump Start here's what you need to know. 1.) You can lose weight on their program 2.) Expensive 3.) Excessive staff turnover 4.) Lots of financial resources go into advertising 5.) No customized approach despite what they claim- it's a one size fits all 6.) Lots of unfulfilled claims/promises- here are some I experienced: a. Appetite suppressants advertised-but apparently I did not qualify (but included in the charge) no discount for not being able to qualify b. Waist measurements not taken c. Seminars/group help not available as advertised- instead they have online videos now d. Customized patient portal (down for 8 of the 12 months I participated) e. Online scheduling (down for 8 of the 12 months I participated) 7.) Multiple and regular overcharges. Significant emails, excuses and time to get these resolved. 8.) Went in on a follow up maintenance visit and said I was struggling with my motivation. I was told, "Just get motivated". I did not find that to be helpful. Staff should be better trained with strategies and tips on how to help with top issues- my guess is this would be one. GOOD LUCK on losing whatever route you choose. read more

I feel like the two poor previous reviews were speaking about a totally different location. I agree with S.H. Everyone at the Piedmont JMD has been the best, from the receptionist to the nutritionists to the clinician. I could absolutely not have gotten this far without their amazing support. I joined JMD about 18 weeks and 23 lbs. ago and for the first time - EVER - I have stuck to the program and believe I can reach my goal. I am a habitual quitter when it comes to diet programs. I join, go to one meeting, then quit. But with JMD, I don't get annoyed with group meetings or fake, processed food. It is real food choices, with real help on nutrition. I actually look forward to my weekly weigh-in and one-on-one session. I never thought that could happen! Even if it wasn't a great weigh-in, I always come away with a new tool or strategy that makes it worth going. No lectures or scoldings. Thanks Piedmont JMD - couldn't have done this without you. read more

JumpstartMD has changed my life! I have lost over 35 pounds and have changed the way I eat. The people I meet with on a weekly basis have helped me understand my triggers when it comes to food, set personal goals and to stop beating myself up when I don't make the best food choices. This program is amazing. read more

One week in and I am very, very impressed. My doctor recommended I join. He is already a member. He was referred by a doctor he is treating (as a patient) and has lost 30+ pounds already. That was enough to send me right to your door. Staff was amazing during intake session and at end of the first week. I was astonished. I know this pace will not last, nor should it, but I embraced the program and lost 9.8 pounds in my first week. read more