About Us
The Center for Obesity Management operates within the Biomedical Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (BMC SAV). Through our research team, we investigate the causes and consequences of obesity. We study intervention options and provide comprehensive care to patients with obesity. In November 2022, we received accreditation from the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO).
NUTRITION
MOVEMENT
PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT
UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION
THE OBESITY MANAGEMENT CENTER TEAM
Prof. Barbara Ukropcová, M.D., Ph.D.
Physician and researcher, EASOCOM advisor
In addition to researching the systemic and molecular mechanisms through which exercise or a lack of physical activity affects our health, she also strives to apply physical activity in the prevention and treatment of chronic metabolic, oncological, and neurodegenerative diseases. To this end, she founded and leads the Center for Physical Activity, which offers training programs for seniors, patients with obesity, Parkinson’s disease, and cancer survivors. As a member of the boards of obesity societies (SOA, OS SDS), co-founder of EXPAS (Exercise and Physical Activity Study Group at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes), and as a university professor at the Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University in Bratislava, she influences current and future generations of experts so that, as a society, we can better utilize the benefits of physical activity for human health.
Peter Minárik, MD, PhD, MPH, MSc.
A physician specializing in internal medicine, geriatrics, and gastroenterology
A physician specializing in internal medicine, geriatrics, and gastroenterology, with many years of experience in the clinical fields of gastroenterology, obesity medicine, nutrition, and dietetics. In recent years, he has focused on promoting public health and educating both professionals and the general public about effective prevention of chronic non-infectious “lifestyle” diseases.
He currently works at the St. Elizabeth Cancer Institute, the Biomedical Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, and the VW ProCare Polyclinic (all in Bratislava). In his teaching activities, he has been active for several years as a university lecturer at St. Elizabeth University of Health and Social Work and, until recently, also at the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra. In 2018, he became a member of the multidisciplinary team at the Center for Obesity Management at the Biomedical Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences.
He has a particular interest in the relationship between diet, obesity, and lifestyle and malignant tumors. His primary professional focus is on exploring the role of physicians and pharmacists in promoting public health and preventing chronic diseases, particularly cancer.
In addition to his clinical, publishing, and lecturing activities, he has long been dedicated to promoting a healthy lifestyle and the prevention of chronic diseases. He is the author or co-author of the books Vademecum of Healthy Nutrition (2010, 2012, 2015), Cancer and Nutrition: Myths and Facts (2013, 2015), Cancer and Nutrition: Myths and Facts 2 + Recipes (2015), Diet for Diseases of the Esophagus, Stomach, and Duodenum (2016), Diet for Diseases of the Gallbladder and Pancreas (2017), Diet for Diabetics (2017), Diet for High Cholesterol and Other Fat Metabolism Disorders (2018), Diet for Liver Diseases (2019), Lifestyle Management in the Treatment of Digestive System Tumors – Advice from Experts and Patients (2020), and served as a technical contributor to the book Gluten-Free Diet, Celiac Disease, and Gluten-Induced Disorders (2020).
In 2021, he co-authored the publications *
* and *Redukčná diéta. Let’s Try It Differently! (2021), the three-volume professional publication Food and Nutritional Literacy (2021), and in 2022, the book Diet for Diseases of the Esophagus, Stomach, and Duodenum (2022).
In 2021 and 2022, he led a team of authors in developing standard preventive procedures focused on health-promoting eating habits and nutrition. In 2021 and 2022, the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic approved two volumes of recommendations,
namely: Recommendations for Diet and Nutrition in Adults – General Section (2021) and
Recommendations for Diet and Nutrition in Adults – Special Section (2022). Both
recommendations were recently published in the form of a book of the same name (2023) intended for the professional community. The third and final part of the dietary and nutritional recommendations is currently being prepared; it will be the publication Recommendations for Diet and Nutrition in Adults for the General Public + Accompanying Visual Aids. This publication will be submitted to the expert committee of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic in October 2023.
Peter Minárik is currently a member of the Slovak Obesity Association, the Slovak Society of Gastroenterology, the Slovak Diabetes Society, and the Obesity Section of the Slovak Diabetes Society.
Ľubomíra Fábryová, MD, PhD, MPH
Physician – specialist in diabetes, president of the Slovak Obesity Association (SOA)
She is the head physician at the Metabol KLINIK metabolic center, which focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and comprehensive management of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and obesity, as well as severe genetically determined lipid metabolism disorders. She also works as a physician and research scientist at the Biomedical Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, and as a lecturer in the Department of Diabetology, Metabolic Disorders, and Nutrition at the Faculty of Medicine of the Slovak Medical University. Last but not least, she serves as a university professor and is also a member of the team at the Institute for Prevention and Intervention at St. Elizabeth University of Health and Social Work.
Jozef Ukropec, M.A., Ph.D.
Scientist and pharmacist
He serves as the head of the Department of Metabolic Disorders Research at the Institute of Experimental Endocrinology of the Biomedical Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. As a doctoral student, he had the opportunity to pursue scientific work at the Institute of Experimental Endocrinology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, where he became fascinated by the pathophysiology of obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. During his doctoral studies, in 1999, he traveled to Oslo, Norway, where he met with scientists who had contributed to the discovery of the leptin molecule in the mid-1990s. After completing his doctoral studies, he and his wife accepted an opportunity to work in the U.S. From several options, they chose the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After more than three very stimulating years, they decided to return to Slovakia and continue their scientific work at the Slovak Academy of Sciences.
Dr. Bibiana Šencová
female doctor
After completing my medical studies at the Slovak Medical University, I worked for some time as a physician at the Slovak Health Spa in Piešťany. After beginning my residency training in the field of Physical Medicine, Balneology, and Medical Rehabilitation, I transferred to the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University Hospital in Bratislava (St. Cyril and Methodius Hospital). I have recently joined the team at the Center for Obesity Management at the Biomedical Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences.
Ľuboslava Pavluvčíková
registered nurse
She worked at Poprad Hospital for 10 years and has been working in the Department of Clinical Oncology at the National Cancer Institute in Bratislava since 1994.
Patrik Konrády,
, B.A.
Physical therapist and fitness trainer
He currently works as a physical therapist and trainer at the Biomedical Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. After graduating, he worked at soccer clubs in Košice and Prešov. While working at a private healthcare center in Bratislava, he completed numerous professional courses. Later, he served as a physical therapy coordinator at one of the largest senior care facilities in Slovakia. He is the creator of a mobile app featuring exercises and the BodyFix.io software for physical therapists and trainers.
Courses completed: Basal Stimulation I, DNS Sports Course 1, SM System – I, II, III, IV, Level 1 and 2 Fitness Trainer, NeuroKinetic Therapy (NKT) 1, Physiotherapy Training, Diagnosis and Correction of the Musculoskeletal System 1, Trigger Point Therapy, Lumbar Twin Muscles 1 + 2 – Spine and Hip Joints + Cervical Spine and Shoulders, Structural and Myofascial Integration, Cupping, Classical and Sports Massage
Lucia Slobodová, M.A., Ph.D.
Coach
A graduate of the doctoral program at the Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, she has been practicing the SM System method since 2013, focusing on correcting musculoskeletal disorders. She is a co-founder of 3 FITT, s.r.o., where she has been providing nutritional counseling in the field of clinical and sports nutrition since 2014. She serves as a trainer for Power Yoga instructors as part of an instructor course accredited by the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic. She currently works as an assistant professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the Slovak Medical University (SZU) and, as a researcher at the Biomedical Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV), continues to study the effects of physical activity on the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases.
Petronela Forišek Paulová, M.A.
Nutrition Therapist
She holds a Ph.D. in Human Nutrition and is a nutritional therapist. She is also a Ph.D. student in clinical science and gut microbiome research. In addition, she works at her own nutritional counseling practice, NellaVita, and at the National Cancer Institute. Her specialization in nutrition has always been driven by a desire to help people with health issues and a passion for discovering new connections between nutrition, health, and disease. She considers nutrition to be a fundamental and essential element in disease prevention and individual health.
He currently works at the St. Elizabeth Cancer Institute, the Biomedical and
e Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, and the VW ProCare Polyclinic (all in Bratislava). In his teaching activities, he has been active for several years as a university instructor at St. Elizabeth University of Health and Social Work and, until recently, also at the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra. In 2018, he became a member of the multidisciplinary team at the Center for Obesity Management at the Biomedical Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences.
Zdenka Solík, B.A.
Nutritionist
She completed her studies in nutrition in Germany and is currently continuing her education at the Slovak Medical University in Bratislava. She currently works as a nutrition counselor at the Medante clinic, where she provides expert nutritional consultations and support to clients. She also runs her own consulting practice called Ide o Tvoje zdravie. She was also involved in the Chuť žiť project, which addresses eating disorders.
Miriam Dojčárová, M.A.
nutrition therapist
Renátka Zamastilová, M.Sc.
CMO, trainer
She is the coordinator of the outpatient clinic at the Center for Obesity Management.
Jana Kubíčková, M.A.
CBT coach
Mgr. Zuzana Porubčanová, PhD. psychologička
Mgr. Silvia Dančiaková
psychologička
Mgr. Polák
psychológ
MUDr. Kamila Ivanová
psychiatrička
MUDr. Miroslav Vlček, PhD.
doc. MUDr. Žofia Rádiková, PhD.
Mgr. Petra Dubajová
fyzioterapeutka / trénerka
Mgr. Libuša Kubáňová
Organizational Structure of the Center for Obesity Management
Ambulancie BMC SAV
Diabetologická ambulancia
garantka: MUDr. Alena Sabová
Ambulancia vnútorného lekárstvo
garant: MUDr. Matej Bendžala PhD.
Pediatria (v spolupráci s NÚDCH)
Endokrinológia
doc. MUDr. Juraj Staník, PhD.
Gastroenterológia
MUDr. Daniela Staníková, PhD.
Veda a výskum BMC SAV
Genetika
Edukácia v obezitológii pre zdravotníkov,
nezdravotníkov aj laickú verejnosť, v spolupráci so Slovenskou obezitologickou asociáciou a s odbornými spoločnosťami
Vedci: dr. Ukropec DrSc, PhD; prof. Ukropcova, PhD; doc. Penesová PhD; dr. Baláž, dr. Balážová; dr. Vlček, PhD; dr. Ž Rádiková, PhD; prof. R. Imrich, DrSc.
Centrum pohybovej aktivity
Tréningy pod dohľadom trénerov
Garantka: prof. MUDr. Ukropcová, PhD. Hlavná trénerka: Mgr. Litváková Diagnostika: Mgr. L. Slobodová, PhD Tréneri: Mgr. J. Laurovic, Mgr. V. Buchtová
Nutriční špecialisti
doc. MUDr. Adela Penesová, PhD.
doc. MUDr. Peter Minárik, PhD., MPH, MSc.
Mgr. Petronela Forišek Paulová
PhDr. Mgr. Petra Vadovičová, PhD.
Psychológovia & KBT koučovia
Mgr. Kubíčková,
dr. Porubčanová
dr. Dančiaková
Fyzioterapia
Patrik Konrády, dipl. f.
Simona Bačová, dipl. f.
Mgr. Petra Dubajová
Externá spolupráca
Ortopédia – MUDr. Juraj Šeliga,PhD.
Kardiológia – MUDr. Daniela Hladíková (NÚDCH)
Neurológia – prof. MUDr. Peter Valkovič, PhD.
Hepatológia – doc. MUDr. Tomáš Koller, MUDr. Marek Rác, PhD., doc. MUDr. Ľubomír Skladaný, PhD.
Všeobecní lekári (SSVPL) – MUDr. Peter Makara MPH
Lipidológia – Lipid clinic & MedPed Center
Endokrinológia – MUDr. Darina Malacká
Bariatrická chirurgia – Doc. MUDr. Ľubomír Marko, Ph.D. (Banská Bystrica), MUDr. Igor Keher (Trnava), MUDr. Marek Vician, PhD. (Bratislava)
Užitočné linky
- Obezitologické ambulancie na Slovensku
- Biomedicínske centrum SAV
- Centrum pohybovej aktivity
- Slovenská obezitologická asociácia
- Európska obezitologická asociácia
- Štandardný diagnostický a terapeutický postup pre chirurgickú liečbu obezity v dospelom veku
- Štandardný diagnostický a terapeutický postup na komplexný manažment nadhmotnosti/obezity v dospelom veku
Our goal is to contribute to the development of evidence-based medicine and to demonstrate the potential of comprehensive lifestyle changes—not only to reduce weight, but also to increase fitness and improve the health of people living with obesity.
