I'm really surprised by the negative reviews here. Personally, I had a really fruitful experience. I worked with Mariam, who answered my questions and stuck with me week after week to track my progress, make recommendations, and course correct with my diet as needed. I already ate very healthy, whole foods consistently before starting on medication but she really helped me lock in the caloric goals I needed to lose weight in a healthy way. I stayed on the medication for about 4 months until my BMI was normal and I didn't qualify for the medication anymore. It was expensive, but I still consider it a worthy investment. I lost about 15-20 lbs and several inches at my waist and hips. I look better, feel better, and am more confident about how to live with healthy habits for the long run. read more

I have lost weight with this problem twice. I lost 15 lbs about 5 years ago and now 20 lbs. I find the diet supper easy and healthy. I need the fact that I made a commitment and the weekly accountability; it works for me. read more

don't waste your money....sales pitch. Impossible diet to stay on and very unhealthy.

I cam from a weight loss center in Manassas....I have not used the services since june...they are still charging me.....You cant cancel if you are on a contract...this place just rips you off...don't go....you are better off throwing your money in a toilet then going with these morons! read more

Hi, I agree with Erin and BK, this is an impossible diet to stay on, and a rip off. I was introduced to this program through Groupon as well. I was immediately told about the plans and I agreed because of the "guarantee" of a 20 lb loss in two months, which is all I needed to lose, then with the promise of a "maintenance" plan which I was really interested in. I signed up for an eight month plan, cost $1200. So after two months of 900 calories a day, impossible to maintain and still be healthy, I landed in an ambulance being rushed to the hospital with High Blood Pressure. I really feel that they do not take individuals into consideration. I told them how I felt and they told me that they had about 13 plans that we could switch too. So, I went in and really it was the same, just a few more calories per day. The diet is very strict and not easy to follow with work and other activities you may have. Plus you do have to buy all of their bad tasting shakes. Another thing, they did not advocate exercise which I thought was a bit strange. Plus I think their vitamin B shots are fruit juice because I never felt any different. And I have taken B shots before and felt a rush of energy. Now I stand to lose another $400 until my contract expires. Stay away! read more

I cancelled my membership, there is no consistency each visit your with someone different and apparently they don't look over your chart to catch themselves up to speed with your medical conditions. The last few visits have been giant sales pitches for products even though my chart clearly states my soy allergy and their products contain soy. I also feel like I am looked down upon because I'd rather not pop pills to loose weight. I've been going since Oct and never once met the doctor. When I signed up I asked numerous times if I can use my flex spending and was assured that I will be given what ever documents I need if requested by my fsa account. It has been a constant battle for me to get the proper receipts and letter of medical necessity that my fsa is requesting. Any time I tell them what is being asked for they question me. Now I'm stuck paying $139 for two more months for nothing so that I can stop going to them. They tried to talk me out of cancelling and once I said I was planning on going to a different facility that will only cost my regular ins co-pays it has been radio silence. If they can't sell you extra products they clearly don't care about you. ***update Susan has pretty much mocked my review via email to me without coming out and saying she read it. She quoted things I have only ever said in my review. She had the time to do that but not answer my question about my injections from our email correspondence on 1/25 and has yet to email me the requested documentation that she claims is signed and ready. I don't know how anyone gets away with this lack of professionalism specially in the medical field. read more

Getting an appointment is easy, all the staff is so friendly as some have been on this journey as well. I am in the middle of my plan and has lost weight successfully with the diet modifications recommended. It is safe, effective, and I love the accountability. Thanks! read more

I signed a contract with them. It is pricey but your health should be worth it. I had to end my contract for personal reasons. However, I was there for about a month and managed to lose 15 lb. in that short amount of time. Every other diet I've tried did not work. The staff there push you to do your best and to follow the plan you are paying for. It does work. I plan on returning to them in the future. I did come across some issues ending my contract since it was binding. However, after I showed the necessary documentation and emailed the owner, the issue was resolved. As a side note I did not purchase the groupon. read more

I am giving this place one star because of my experience. I also bought the one month Groupon and succumbed to the sales pitch to buy a full weight loss program. It became obvious very quickly that the the very low calorie diet required left me feeling hungry all the time. Their answer was to spend more money on weight loss aides- overpriced shakes and snacks. I felt that the counselors were a bit condescending. If I honestly recorded that I had some off limits treat I'd get a little reprimand. I became too embarrassed to show my face due to my lack of results. In addition, when I signed the contract, I did not understand that my daily calorie intact was to be only 1000 calories. Also, you only see the physician one time at the beginning when he checks that you are healthy enough to attempt this plan. I could go on, but I really just want to warn others considering this program. Be aware that you may end up spending thousands of dollars and get no results. The counselors are very sincere in what they are doing but it will require tremendous will power on your part. When it became apparent that this program was not going to work for me due to my lifestyle and other limitations, I was stuck in a contract that I have been paying for one and a half years! I have poured thousands of dollars down the drain. If you are considering trying this PLEASE just try the 4 week Groupon and go into a contract with your eyes wise open. read more

Worst experience ever. You can't make this stuff up. Purchased a groupon for 4 weeks of weight loss and b-12 shots which ended up being one b-12 shot. Most staff is overweight - which is fine but not for a weight loss clinic. The manager was just horrible. She was rude and unapologetic. She actually said yeah I'm not sorry and today is not a good day. She had something going on in her life and she made sure to let the customer and her staff know about it! Most unprofessional person I have ever met. Go elsewhere anywhere else. This place is a joke. Susan - I have no received any call from you. Yes please refund my money as I have no intention of ever going back to Physicians Weight Loss Center in Fairfax. read more

Came for a consultation, walked into a sales pitch. I felt like I was at a dealership. The "tools" they offer per month are tools any educated and motivated being can do completely on their own and know what the best part is - you can do it for free! They upsell their reasoning behind the cost of membership with b-12 injections and things one really does not care for.....I walked away knowing good and well I would not be returning....I can see the appeal for lazy (or busy) people to come to a place like this....But to be honest,from the place being closed upon my prompt arrival, to the "coaches" unprofessionalism, I would recommend you look elsewhere for help. read more

I purchased a groupon for $59 for four weeks of weight loss counseling and was very disappointed. I found it to really be a ploy to get people to purchase their bigger plans. The second I walked in, they were showing me other plans I should purchase. Also, none of the diet plans are possible without buying their expensive shakes. And of course you will lose weight if you are only eating 800 calories per day. Skip this place. read more

Best decision I have ever made! Like many people, I went in with the intention to just use the groupon, but committed to the program. I have since lost 78 pounds in 10 months and have learned to eat regularly as well as watch what I eat! The staff is fantastic! I love the compliments and encouragement I get from them as well as friends and family. It is a big commitment, but it's the best commitment I could have ever made due to my family's health history as well as my own. I've never felt better! read more

I found them when I purchased a groupon for one of their services. I didn't know what to expect when I went in for my consultation, and let me tell you, I have been blown away with the staff, services and customer service. They are so friendly and inviting from them minute you walk through the door. They also are really flexible to try and work with me to make sure my appointments work conveniently in my schedule. I have one more appointment before my groupon is up and I am thinking about continuing with additional services since i have been so satisfied so far with the services. It also is really refreshing to feel supported in my weight loss journey from a staff that is educated and cares about your health. read more

Was pleasantly surprised. My daughter and I took them up on a Groupon for a month. We both lost some significant weight and there was no real hard sell from them. They of course offered their plans and did give a sales pitch, but I would expect that. I learned a lot about my eating habits over the four week period which has helped me a lot. I may go back if I feel I need more support in the future. read more

I suppose it may be the online experience that is so abysmal, but PWLC has been charging me for 8 months after the end date of my program. I received half of the payments back, but when i called about the remaining 4 i was asked for my credit card number again in order to reimburse me, obviously I'm skeptical but gave it anyway. Was not reimbursed and on top of it i was charged AGAIN two days ago! Thanks PWLC for making me have to change all my bank info! Also my "program" was abysmal. You pay in order to purchase things from them. You literally only get access to their products after you pay for the program. Seems like a scam to me! read more

GROUPON IS WORTHLESS. I bought the $59.00 Groupon thinking that it was enough since I only need to lose 10 pounds. Even the assistant told me I did not need to lose any weight ( but I know that I have 10 extra to lose). After talking with her about my diet for about 3 minutes she told me that what I needed is a more aggressive diet program. Guess what.... THAT program was not included in my Groupon so I needed to buy it, and by the way, it is only ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS! The girl did not give me any other options and told me, "if you don't want it, just ask for a refund in Groupon" -which I did. With her answer I could see that they are not interested in people who could not become long term clients. Don't go there if you are not ready to sign a contract with them. IF you go there just ignore the bad attitude of the receptionist, it must be awful to work in a place like that. read more

I have been trying to lose weight all my life, I have never been skinny. I have always been more curvy and had more shape, but I got to a point in my weight that I was heavier then I have ever been before. I saw a voucher from Living Social for the weight loss center and thought why not. I went in and the counselor was very helpful and informed me of what I wanted is not healthy for the month the voucher is for. I decided to go for, why not. I have been on the plan for the last 3-4 months and lost about 20 pounds, I am so happy and am going to keep going. Not only has it taught me how to eat healthier which is what I wanted but provided a healthy view on food and diet. I recommend this place, the counselor's are very helpful and have been there before. They all understand how hard it is to lose weight and are very encouraging. Evelyn J. read more

I'm down 37 lbs with my goal of 40. These counselors are wonderful. They know what you are experiencing and they have the tools to help you. You have to be committed yourself and I'm excited I'm now at the weight I was in my 30s. At 57 that means my metabolism is working better and my body, mind and spirit are in balance. Thank you physicians weight loss. read more

I completely agree with Erin B. I bought the groupon and was immediately told to Really get results I needed to do an 8month plan for a MINIMUM of $100 a month (this does not include aallllll of their foods you must buy for the program to "work"). I stuck to the diet they prescribed me, only straying by neglecting to drink their nasty shakes. End of the month, I had lost about 5lbs of water weight - no where near what they "guarantee". Also, on my Last visit I was finally told that the entire time I had been coming in and getting weighted - that the machine was "messing up" due to my high amount of muscle, as it wasn't possible for my percentages to be jumping all over the place. Meanwhile they had neglected to inform me of this prior to so that it could be corrected. In other words - unless you are willing to pay approximately $400 ($100 for the 'consulting', $60 a WEEK for their shakes, $30 for their snacks, etc) a Month to Hopefully lose weight, do NOT waste your time here. Might as well get a physical trainer for that amount. read more

I had a completely different experience with this place (groupon also). They didn't try to sell me anything, they did an analysis of my weight in terms of bmi, water retention, etc. They reviewed with me my my typical meals and made very specific concrete suggestions as to what i should be doing instead. I got a weekly b-12 shot for the 4 weeks under the groupon as well as two vitamin supplements. Although I have opted to not go forward with the weekly weigh in and counseling, I did sign up for ten more weekly b-12 shots. My reason for not continuing with the weigh-in's and counseling has more to do with me than with them. I had started down another path that is working fairly well for me, and I didn't necessarily want to switch horses in mid stream. I bought the Groupon out of curiosity to see how their advice fits in with what has been working for me. However, I am eating more protein and less carbs and drinking lots more water thanks to Physicians Weight Loss. read more

I love love love this place! The staff is so courteous and knowledgeable. Nina is awesome to talk to during the physical exam and Meredith can keep with the menu so you're on the right track. I haven't met the doc yet but I will next week. I've done other weight loss programs before and I lost weight but I gained it back. This place makes me feel hopeful. I'm giving only 4 stars because I haven't met the doc yet. I'll update after I do. read more

It's a scam. They are trying to take your money. The programs cost thousands! Even a six month program will cost at least $1300! Go to weight watchers! Erin is correct, if you eat 800 calories you will of course lose weight. read more

I am a client at the Fairfax, VA Lee Hwy., location and the program really works. Just stick to the okB and the weight comes off. The staff is very personal, engaging and motivating. I an so glad I joined this weight-loss program and thus center in particular. They are very accommodating to meet your schedule. Try them and start losing now. read more

I agree with the a lot of the comments on here. I was enticed in with the groupon as I had heard good things about b12 (i have since found places that provide them at a more affordable price). I had a horrible experience in July/August. Being overweight i don't have the best self esteem and within 20 minute I was crying because I was made to feel like a fat worthless person who my only way to get better was to sign a contract with their program. I chose not to sign up that week and glad i didn't. Using their program I was starving all the time. I am overweight, but I am athletic I play several sports and hit the gym quite often. I was told that I shouldn't do that on this plan because then i would want to eat more. I lost 6lbs my first week, it probably helps that I had a lot of water weight due to the timing of my first weigh in. After that I maybe lost 2 more lbs. It was impossible to get an evening or weekend appointment as those were reserved for real clients not groupon folks. One week after not losing any weight I was basically told I must be lying about what i eat even though I had a food journal that i did keep and i did eat. Going there every week made me feel i was being shamed into joining a program. For the manager if you do reply to this, yes you probably don't have a Marie B in your records from last year... i use my middle name as a user name. read more

I bought a Groupon for PWLC back in February and had my initial consultation March 8th. This covered four weeks of services. They did a body analysis and led me through a recommended weight loss plan. I was told that I needed to lose 130 lbs and that it would take about 13 months. Obviously, a 4 week Groupon wasn't going to cover this. I decided to sign up, and I'm so glad I did. Since then I've lost 53 lbs, and that's on regular food I get from the grocery store. I opted for a program that is not centered around the shakes they sell, since I don't really like drinking my meals. The accountability is key. Paula is really great for nutritional counseling, and all of the employees are very encouraging. Don't be put off by the B12 shots: they're tiny needles and they don't hurt. I highly recommend this place! If you're serious about getting to a healthy weight, and you're committed to following the plan, this WILL work for you! read more

I purchased a Living Social deal and went to the center to redeem the voucher and met one of the consultants. She was friendly, helpful, all of the things you'd expect. She convinced me to upgrade into a package deal which meant I'd be paying monthly for 2 years. This was fine until I started trying to get out to the center and realized how difficult it would be based on traffic getting to Fairfax, and just life in general. I was also expecting the program to include more (other than a weigh in and suggestions on food to buy which of course is more money). I spoke with the doctor (owner I believe) and she said that police officers, lawyers and doctors could make the effort so why couldn't I? I didn't appreciate that response as this was not her place to say and, I was spending an arm and a leg for nothing. She worked out a deal to cut my payments and lengthen my time but if this does not work, it does not work, why force someone to pay? I guess because it's a contract we are still obligated to pay over $2,000 to do NOTHING!!! I would not recommend this place to anyone. Go to Weight Watchers. It's $14 a month and you basically do the exact same thing except you don't get a Vitamin B12 shot which in the end, does it really do much to stimulate your energy and metabolism? I guess we live and we learn. But wow! What an expensive learning curve. read more

I would not recommend this program to anyone. The aggravation of ending the contract with them is worse than a phone company even with a doctor's recommendation. Please consider other plans before you pay for this. I wish someone would have warned me. read more

Buyer Beware - You may be signing a one year contract, check the details. If you can, meet with several "counselors" prior to signing, they may or may not be customer friendly. Your monthly fee is just the beginning - ask what the typical weekly supplements cost (my 2 items are over $ 50/week). This program is pretty rigid and you may not understand just how rigid it is until you are committed for 12 months. I would NOT do this again if I knew then what I know now. read more

My experience was exactly that of Erin's. I walked in and immediately was bombarded with how the groupon will not offer me with the good weight loss plan and the only way I would lose weight was to pay $99/month for several months and then I would be on a 900 calorie diet and that way I would lose the weight. When I told her I wasn't purchasing the plan yet, she kept bugging me about why I "wouldn't commit" and then basically scratched me off her list and didn't give a damn about my eating habits or what works for me. She gave me a lame eating plan and tried to make me buy the protein shakes and that was that. If I wanted a meal plan, I would join Weight Watchers, South Beach or someone. Do not go there. read more

I can't say enough about this experience !! It has been incredible!!!!! Paula and Carmen are absolutely amazing !!!! I already lost over 10 pounds and I have only had been there a few weeks. I love the program!! No gimmicks at all! They are very open and honest and a joy to work with. true professionals!! read more

I purchased a 2-$59.00 for a Four Week Weight Loss program from Groupon, sure enough, it was very disappointed to find out that they want to sell their expensive Weight Loss Program for certain months. It all depends on how much you want to lose the weight, excluding foods, vitamins supplement etc. The $59.00 is used toward the weight loss program, it was more like paying for an hour consulation fees, which is valued at $398.00, after doing the researching from other weight loss program, its sure enough true. If you want to continue to buy it, you will have to pay $200.00 or so as a deposit to get the B12 shot. I already filed a complaint to Groupon, they will issue you the refunds. How disappointed with Physicians Weight Loss Center in Fairfax VA. read more

They don't give you a personalized diet plan. It's the same for everyone. They don't ask what you usually eat and what you don't, what you can live without and what not. Also, they try to sell a million other things to you (other packages, horrible drinks etc.). Finally, they are unorganized. For example you usually have to wait quite enough even if you have an appointment or you cannot find them at the phone. I wouldn't recommend it read more

These people are scam artists. They don't care about your health. What they teach is a starvation diet, otherwise known as anorexia. They do not encourage healthy eating habits. With this program I was eating so many less fruits and vegetables, and replacing it with the products they sell as 'diet' food. They actually told me I needed to STOP exercising completely. They wanted me to only eat 900 calories a day. After almost a year on this program, I lost nothing. I felt like crap. I was tired all the time and constantly getting sick. So I quit the program, and have been happier since (and losing weight). Unfortunately they will not let me out of the contract, so I am stuck paying these idiots a ton of money for nothing. Please do not join this program! They put the word 'physician' in the name to make it sound like there is some medical science behind it, but there isn't. The women working there have no qualifications. They are basically just there to sell you their many products and send you on your way. read more