Cardiology Letters 2017, 26(3):138-144

The efficacy of non-pharmacological treatment of obesity in a spa

Belovičová M^{1, 2, 3, 4}, Matula P⁵

¹ Bardejovské Kúpele a.s., Bardejov

² Interná ambulancia so zameraním na diagnostiku a liečbu chorôb pečene, Remedium s.r.o.

³ Vysoká škola zdravotníctva a sociálnej práce sv. Alžbety Bratislava, pracovisko Prešov a Michalovce

⁴ Slovenskej spoločnosti praktickej obezitológie (SSPO), Bardejov

⁵ Klinika rádioterapie a onkológie, Východoslovenský onkologický ústav, Košice, Slovenská republika

Aim of the study: To evaluate the effectiveness of non-pharmacological treatment of obesity in patients who underwent a two-week reduction weight-stay in Bardejov Spa, a. s. in the years 2012-2016. We intended to ascertain whether the non-pharmacological treatment of obesity would statistically significantly affect values of total cholesterol (CHOL), triglycerides (TG), HDL cholesterol (high density lipoprotein), LDLcholesterol (low density lipoprotein), uric acid (KM) and glycemia.

Methodology: Bardejov Spa a.s. has developed a complex specialized two-week spa stay aimed at weight reduction, which was put into practice in May 2012. During this stay clients gain new knowledge regarding a proper diet and physical activity while being under medical supervision. During the stay they undergo testing for early detection of cardiovascular disease and liver diseases.

Results: 184 clients completed the weight reduction stay. Average weight loss after completing the course was 3.8 kg (3.78739 kg), waist circumference was reduced by an average of 5.5 cm (5.49727 cm). The values of weight loss and waist circumference reduction were highly statistically significant (p = 0.001). With the consent of the clients, we took from them control samples at the end of their weight reduction stay. Average CHOL decrease was 0.72 mmol / l (0.72840), average TAG decrease was 0.4 mmol/l (0,39699), average LDL decrease was 0.6 mmol/l (0,62987), average Gly decrease was 0.7 mmol/l (0,71083). The values of decrease in total cholesterol, TAG, LDL, and blood glucose levels were highly statistically significant (p = 0.001).

Conclusions: The most effective method in the prevention of obesity is targeted intervention aimed at improving dietary habits, increasing physical activity and overall change of lifestyle. We see the contribution of our weight reduction courses in their complexity (diet, physical activity, education, motivation and psychological support) and in the presence of feedback (we communicate with the course participants even after completion).

Keywords: obesity; non-pharmacological treatment

Published: March 1, 2017  Show citation