The Specialised Obesity Clinic is part of the Outpatient Services of the Department of Internal Medicine at Larnaca General Hospital and has been operating since 1 February 2023 in the hospital’s new building. Its aim is the holistic management of obesity as a disease. For this reason, the clinic is staffed by specialised healthcare professionals: an internal medicine physician with SCOPE certification in obesity, a clinical dietitian, two clinical psychologists specialising in eating disorders, a clinic nurse with a particular interest in the effects of exercise on health parameters, a physiotherapist, and a plastic surgeon.
The Obesity Clinic assesses patients who present with increased total and/or visceral adipose tissue capable of causing mild to severe complications. Management is based on investigating the underlying causes leading to excess adipose tissue and body weight, identifying barriers that hinder successful treatment outcomes, and evaluating obesity-related complications. Given the heterogeneity and chronic nature of obesity, its management requires time and individualisation; therefore, care is delivered through patient-centred models.
Specifically, the services provided by the clinic include:
Consultations with an Internal Medicine Physician:
Medical history taking with emphasis on obesity, clinical examination and diagnosis of obesity-related complications (metabolic, functional, psychological), measurement of anthropometric parameters (body weight, body mass index, waist, hip, arm and neck circumference), evaluation of body composition using the DXA method, nutritional ultrasound, blood tests (specialised and routine) for the diagnosis of common and rare causes and complications of obesity, disease staging using the Edmonton system, measurement of the ankle–brachial index and Doppler ultrasound of upper and lower limb arteries, implementation of an individualised treatment plan according to disease stage, pharmacological management of obesity, setting individualised, measurable and realistic goals, assessment and referral for metabolic surgery, and follow-up of patients after metabolic surgery.
Consultations with a Clinical Dietitian:
Nutritional assessment, body composition analysis using the BIA method, education aimed at improving dietary habits, nutritional management of obesity and its complications, individualised hypocaloric diets, and assessment of patients who are candidates for metabolic surgery.
Consultations with a Clinical Psychologist:
Use of specific assessment tools and methods to identify the causes leading to binge-eating episodes and their management, when required, through cognitive behavioural therapy. Assessment of patients who are candidates for metabolic surgery.
Consultations with a Clinic Nurse:
Motivating patients to adopt lifestyle changes, screening for depression, anxiety disorders and quality of life using validated questionnaires in order to identify patients requiring further referral to the clinic’s psychologists, anthropometric measurements, assessment of achievement of exercise goals (quality and quantity), and exploration of reasons for failure to meet these goals.
Consultations with a Physiotherapist:
Assessment and management of functional complications of obesity (e.g. osteoarthritis, low back pain, urinary incontinence, etc.), as well as barriers to weight loss.
Body Composition Analysis:
All patients are referred to the Radiology Department of Larnaca General Hospital for body composition analysis using the most reliable method, DXA (state-of-the-art Horizon system).
Consultations with a Plastic Surgeon:
Assessment and management of patients with specific obesity-related complications such as lipœdema and lymphœdema, as well as surgical management of complications resulting from major weight loss (e.g. abdominal apron, arms and breasts).
The Obesity Clinic currently follows approximately 400 patients with a high rate of success. It operates in accordance with the recommendations of the Strategic Centre for Obesity Professional Education (SCOPE) of the World Obesity Federation. It is integrated within the Diabetes Centre of the Department of Internal Medicine at Larnaca General Hospital (Head: Director of Internal Medicine Dr Andreas Stylianou, MD, PhD, Consultant Physician and Diabetologist). The Obesity Clinic is led by Consultant Physician Dr Haris Constantinou, MD, BSc, SCOPE Certified.
Future plans and objectives include:
Appointments and Information