Human Polyclinic – Dietetics department

Obesity is a chronic disease that is characterized by an excessive increase of body fat. In order to establish a diagnosis and determine a proper therapy, it is necessary to evaluate the nutritional status and all other risk factors which affect the occurrence, existence and deterioration of obesity.

The evaluation of nutritional status and potential obesity is performed based on:

• An interview with a physician during which data are obtained about the onset of obesity, its course, as well as the effects of previous measures taken to regulate weight, about diet routines and potential eating disorders, physical activities, smoking, alcohol consummation, as well as living conditions. The genetic load and patient’s motivation are surely taken into consideration when starting with the weight regulation measures.
• An examination by a physician which includes measuring patients body weight and height and calculating the body mass index (BMI) based on which the nutritional status is determined (a value more than 30 indicates obesity). The examination also includes measuring patient’s waist size, blood pressure and determining the existence of comorbidities.
• Laboratory testing that include a physical and chemical examination of urine, measurement of blood sugar level, liver enzymes, fat and hormones in blood.
• Cardiologic examination with analyzing the electrical activity of the cardiac muscle (EKG).

Treating obesity encompasses the application of several different medical measures in combination with a psychological support for some patients; Specialized centers such as “Human” Polyclinic are ideal places for the implementation of such measures. The measures in question are the following:

• Healthy eating plan
• Physical activity program
• Behavioral therapy
• Medicamentous treatment
• Surgical treatment with the most severe cases

The basis of obesity treatment is a diet therapy based on the principles of a regular diet. Unfortunately, the Internet are gives us access to numerous diets which could do more harm than good to our health. The only safe way of losing body weight is a way managed by professionals in specialized center such as “Human” Polyclinic.

The fundamental principle states that the daily calorie intake must be reduced. A patient is monitored for 2-4 weeks and later for 3-6 months. If the weight loss is within the boundaries of the plan, the diet is continued until the target BMI is reached. It is necessary to keep track of the comorbidities and, when necessary, revise the applied measures.

Food intolerance tests and the body-analyzer measurement provide invaluable help to the physicians in determining individual medical nutritional therapy.

“Human” Polyclinic facilitates measurement and monitoring of diets on a state-of-the-art device for body composition analysis, InBody 520. The medical nutritional therapy that is used in “Human” Polyclinic is based on the recommendations of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia, World Health Organization (WHO), American Dietetic Organization (ADO) and esteemed world medical institutions (Mayo Clinic, Harvard School of Public Health).

A diet plan is done for both obese and healthy persons who are willing to maintain and improve their health. It implies a health-nutritional procedure which prevents diseases, takes care of one’s health, cures obesity and all with the aim of improving quality of life. An appropriate diet plan should satisfy the needs in energy, nutritional and protective substances, the needs for fluids and cannot disrupt everyday physical activities. It must not jeopardize business and social activities of an individual.

For people who are already suffering from obesity and/or other chronic diseases, a diet is planned in a special way. The diet planning is performed by a team of specialists of “Human” Polyclinic.