/ 117 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue · Athens · 11521
T +30 210 6854799
/ 5 Erythrou Stavrou street · Marousi · 15123
T +30 210 6854399
What is obesity?
Obesity is the condition of being overweight and with a high degree of body fat. Obesity, or excessive body weight, involves much more than the appearance and self-esteem. It increases the risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, joint problems, and many other health conditions.
We gain weight when you consume more calories than we need, which our body stores as fat. But, the reasons for weight gain aren’t as straightforward. Our body weight is influenced by many things, such as lifestyle choices, genetics, and emotions. Medical conditions like hormone imbalances, pituitary problems or thyroid disorders — or medicines like steroids, beta blockers, or antidepressants may also contribute to weight gain and obesity.
Today obesity is definitely manageable and they are multiple treatments in order to deal with a different levels of obesity in an appropriate way. Obesity can significantly affect a person’s life psychologically but many times on a functional level as well. We are strong believers that obesity management should be approached conservatively and every effort should be made to avoid very drastic measures of obesity management. The most critical step is the decision to lose weight and more importantly to maintain the weight loss achieved long-term. However, losing weight can be difficult and frustrating, particularly when you have a lot of weight to lose. Our Center offers comprehensive care to help you achieve a healthy weight. Our obesity specialists determine the cause of your weight gain and design a personalized treatment plan that improves your health, confidence, and overall well-being.
How obese am I?
The most widely used method to assess a person’s weight is the body mass index (BMI), which is your weight in kilograms divided by your height in metres squared. If your BMI is:
- 25-29, you would be considered overweight
- 30-40, you would be considered obese
- 40 and over, you would be considered very obese.
Another useful method is to measure around your waist. Men whose waist measurement is 94cm or more and women whose waist measurement is 80cm or more are more likely to develop obesity-related health problems such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer.
Symptoms and medical problems caused by obesity
Obesity causes day to day problems such as:
- breathlessness
- increased sweating
- snoring or difficulty sleeping
- inability to cope with sudden physical activity
- feeling very tired every day
- back and joint pains
Obesity can also cause harmful changes you may not notice, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. It can be damaging to your quality of life and is often a trigger for depression.
How does your Center manage Obesity?
Our Center takes obesity very seriously and supports adults with a high level of obesity to improve their health and wellbeing. Our team includes the following branches:
- Medical endocrinology, Diabetes & Diet
- Bariatric surgery
- Plastic surgery
- Psychology
- Specialized diet
- exercise specialists
- other obesity professionals
Specialized treatment suggestions
Our team focuses on people with a high risk of developing complications from obesity or who already have additional health problems. Our Center encourages sustainable healthy lifestyle modifications (diet and exercise) and intensive treatments as required. These intensive treatments include weight loss programs, weight loss medications and identification of patients suitable for the Weight Loss “Baloon Pill” or for Bariatric Surgery (weight loss surgery).