Functional Medicine Assessment in Sugar Land, TX
A Journey of Healing and Empowerment
Your first step toward a clear understanding of your health, and a personalized plan to feel your best.
If you’re struggling with fatigue, brain fog, weight changes, hormone shifts, or “normal” labs that don’t explain how you feel, the Functional Assessment with Dr. Julia Ward, MD is designed for you. This visit goes far beyond a typical 10-minute appointment and gives you a clear, root-cause picture of your health.
What is a Functional Assessment?
The Functional Medicine Assessment is your comprehensive entry point into Dr. Ward’s functional and metabolic medicine practice. Rather than chasing symptoms, we look at the whole picture: your history, labs, physiology, and lifestyle, to understand why you feel the way you do and what needs to change.
What You Can Expect
- A 60–90 minute deep dive into your health history, symptoms, lifestyle, and goals
- A doctor who listens, connects the dots, and explains why your symptoms are happening
- A personalized, root-cause interpretation — not a rushed, surface-level visit
- A clear roadmap for your next steps, without pressure or sales tactics
What’s Included in the Functional Assessment
1. Advanced Laboratory Testing
These labs are far more thorough than standard primary-care panels and help us understand your root causes clearly and precisely:
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Comprehensive hormone panel
Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, pregnenolone
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Thyroid panel
TSH, Free T3, Free T4, reverse T3, thyroid antibodies
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Expanded lipid panel
Particle size and cardiovascular risk markers
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Full metabolic and inflammation panel
Blood sugar, liver and kidney function, inflammation markers, electrolytes
Specific labs may be customized based on your unique presentation.
2. Advanced Functional Assessments
InBody Scan
Measures body composition, visceral fat, muscle mass, inflammation, and metabolic rate.
Link: https://www.inbodyusa.com
GlycoCheck Microvascular Test
Evaluates the health of your endothelial glycocalyx — the foundation of vascular, heart, and metabolic health.
Link: https://www.glycocalyx.com
Why This Assessment Matters
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Identifies the true root causes of fatigue, weight changes, hormone shifts, mood symptoms, inflammation, and metabolic issues
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Reveals early disease patterns that traditional testing often misses
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Connects your symptoms to underlying physiology so we know exactly what to address
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Gives you clarity about your health and confidence about your next steps
Instead of guessing, you’ll finally understand what’s going on in your body and what to do about it.
What Makes This Visit Different
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Meaningful, personalized clinical insight — not a 10-minute, rushed appointment
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Time spent understanding your story, not just checking off symptoms
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A clear, written plan you can take home and review
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A chance to see whether our practice is the right fit for you — and whether you feel truly supported moving forward
This is care designed with you and for you.
Your Next Step
If this approach resonates with you, the Functional Assessment is your gateway into a deeper healing process. It’s the perfect starting point if you want a doctor who listens, looks at your whole picture, and guides you with both expertise and compassion.
What is the Functional Assessment?
The Functional Assessment is a comprehensive 60–90 minute functional medicine visit with Dr. Julia Ward, MD. During this appointment, Dr. Ward takes a deep dive into your health history, symptoms, lifestyle, and goals, and combines that information with advanced labs and body composition testing to understand the true root causes of how you feel.
Who is the Functional Assessment for?
This assessment is ideal for people who are experiencing persistent symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, weight changes, hormone shifts, mood changes, poor sleep, or metabolic issues—and who have been told that their “labs are normal” but still don’t feel well. It’s a strong starting point if you want a doctor who looks at the whole picture rather than just treating individual symptoms.
What is included in the Functional Assessment?
Your visit includes an in-depth consultation with Dr. Ward, advanced laboratory testing (including hormone, thyroid, metabolic, lipid, and inflammation markers), an InBody body composition scan, and GlycoCheck microvascular testing when appropriate. You leave with a personalized, written roadmap that outlines next steps in your care based on your unique findings.
How long does the appointment take?
The Functional Assessment typically lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. Dr. Ward intentionally schedules extended time so she can listen carefully, ask detailed questions, review your history, and explain what your results mean without rushing.
How should I prepare for my Functional Assessment?
Before your visit, you will be asked to complete intake forms and provide any prior lab work or relevant medical records. It’s helpful to bring a list of your current medications and supplements, as well as your top health concerns and goals. Drinking plenty of water and avoiding heavy meals immediately before your InBody scan can also help improve the accuracy of your measurements.
Are lab tests done the same day?
In many cases, lab orders are placed at or just before your Functional Assessment. Some testing may be done on-site, while other labs are drawn at partner laboratories. Once results are available, Dr. Ward will review them with you and integrate them into your customized care plan.
Is the Functional Assessment covered by insurance?
Balanced Body Functional Medicine operates as a cash-based, out-of-network practice. The Foundational Assessment and associated testing are paid at the time of service. Upon request, our team can provide a superbill that you may submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement, depending on your plan.
Do you offer virtual or in-person visits for the Functional Assessment?
The Functional Assessment is typically performed in person at our Sugar Land clinic so we can complete your InBody scan, GlycoCheck testing, and physical evaluation. In some cases, virtual options may be available after an initial in-person visit or for follow-up appointments. Our team can help you determine what is most appropriate based on your location and needs.