Paideia International Hospital’s dietetics service
Paideia International Hospital offers a clinical dietetics service aimed at maintaining and improving the state of health, understood as complete psychological, physical and social well-being.
In addition to excess weight and obesity, many diseases are diet-related, such as food intolerances, type II diabetes, migraines, hyperuricemia, dyslipidemia, and many others.
Dietetics, main conditions treated:
- Excess weight and obesity in adults
- Excess weight and obesity in children and adolescents
- Metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance
- Dyslipidemias (high cholesterol, hypertriglyceridaemia)
- Type I and II diabetes (dietary diabetes)
- Eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge eating disorder)
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Migraines and degenerative nerve diseases
- Auto-immune diseases (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, fibromyalgia, etc.)
- Acne
- Osteoporosis
In addition to metabolic syndromes, a dietetic examination is also recommended in particular physiological cases:
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Weaning
- Menopause
- Competitive sports
Specialist dietetic consultation
- The dietetic consultation is an internist examination with a focus on the patient's level of nutrition. The first stage is mainly exploratory, with the aim of identifying the more or less conscious motivations behind the patient's decision to consult a dietician.
- Prescription and interpretation of specific blood tests and any medical tests that support the diagnosis (e.g. liver ultrasound, DEXA, etc.).
- Anthropometric assessment.
- Assessment of body composition by means of bioimpedance analysis and/or DEXA.
Dietetics: diagnostic procedures
- Bioimpedance analysis: This test is used to measure body water and, based on the distribution, define the percentages of fat mass/fat-free mass, estimate water distribution (intra- and extra-cellular) and basal metabolism.
- Total-body DEXA: is a technique that quantifies fat mass and fat-free mass, as well as the assessment of bone mineral tissue. It is easy to perform, with very limited radiological exposure, excellent reproducibility and the possibility of focusing the analysis on particular body segments. Particularly indicated in cases of obesity.
Treatment of overweight and obesity with the dietary service
Mediterranean diet
The Mediterranean diet is a lifestyle model that combines proper nutrition with a non-sedentary lifestyle. Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of the Mediterranean diet in preventing neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and obesity. Particularly indicated in developmental stages such as childhood and adolescence, which is an optimal period for promoting and maintaining a general state of good health.
Ketogenic diet
This is a therapeutic diet regimen that imitates fasting and is more effective than more traditional low-calorie diets in particular clinical cases. It is a therapeutic intervention that requires qualified and in-depth expertise, which ensures safe and effective treatment in the short and long term.
Pharmacology
In combination with dietary intervention, pharmacological treatments are available that are helpful in promoting weight loss,helping to stick to the diet and maintain a healthy weight post weight loss.
Bariatric endoscopy
Intra-gastric balloon treatment is a minimally invasive and temporary procedure that induces weight loss effectively and safely.
Bariatric surgery
This is the gold standard of treatment for morbid obesity, offering the patient maximum effectiveness in terms of weight loss and treating comorbidities, compared to other treatments available today. However, it requires preparation and follow-up supervised by a dietician in order to reduce pre-operative and anaesthesia complication rates and to reduce the likelihood of post-surgical re-intervention.
