Health professionals with experience in Obesity in the Southern suburbs of Athens

Dr. Ioannis Virlos is a General Surgeon who maintains a private practice in Glyfada. He graduated from the Medical School of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, obtaining his medical degree in 1990. In 2000, he earned a Master’s degree in Surgical Sciences (MSc in Surgical Sciences) as well as a Diploma from Imperial College London (Diploma Imperial College), United Kingdom. In 2009, he was awarded a Doctorate (Medical Doctorate) from the University of Manchester, UK.He has been a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCSEd.) since 1998 and of the Intercollegiate Board in Surgery of the United Kingdom (FRCS (Gen Surg)) since 2008. Since 2011, he has been a Fellow of the European Board of Surgery in the field of Colorectal Surgery (FEBS (Coloproctology)).Dr Ioannis Virlos is a specialized colorectal and bariatric surgeon, also trained in minimally invasive surgery — both laparoscopic and robotic. He has received training not only in Greece but also in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Belgium.After completing his military service in 1992, he trained in General Surgery in hospitals in Athens and the United Kingdom between 1992 and 1999, obtaining his specialty title in General Surgery in 1999. From 2002 to 2012, he served as a surgical consultant in hospitals in the UK, Australia, Belgium, and Greece. Specifically, he worked at the following hospitals in the UK: North Middlesex, Arrowe Park, Derriford, Torbay, Exeter, Cheltenham, and North Bristol, as well as at Sir Charles Gairdner University Hospital in Perth, Australia, and Sotiria Hospital in Athens (as Senior Consultant).During the same period, he received advanced training in laparoscopic colorectal surgery and laparoscopic bariatric surgery at Singleton Hospital in Swansea, UK, and Heilighart Ziekenhuis in Roeselare, Belgium.From 2012 to 2021, he worked as a Consultant Surgeon at the following hospitals in the UK: Ealing Hospital, Homerton University Hospital, John Radcliffe & Churchill Hospitals in Oxford, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Northampton General Hospital, and University Hospitals of Derby and Burton. He returned to Greece in 2021.Since 2023, Mr. Virlos has been the Director of Surgery at Metropolitan General Hospital in Athens. He also serves as the General Secretary of the Hellenic Society of Coloproctology. Finally, for the period 2025–2028, he will represent Greece at the European Society of Coloproctology.

Η Ραάτ Έμιλυ MSc είναι εξειδικευμένη Κλινική Διαιτολόγος - Διατροφολόγος. Είναι απόφοιτη του Ελληνικού Μεσογειακού Πανεπιστημίου, με επιπλέον σπουδές στην Ιατρική Σχολή του Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλίας. Έχει παρακολουθήσει σεμινάρια επιμόρφωσης στο Ευρωπαϊκό Ινστιτούτο Συμβουλευτικής και Ψυχοθεραπείας (EICP), με στόχο την ενίσχυση δεξιοτήτων που αφορούν την αποτελεσματική επικοινωνία και την ουσιαστική υποστήριξη των διαιτώμενων.

Το διαιτολογικό της γραφείο το οποίο διατηρεί στην Καλλιθέα. ειδικεύεται στη διατροφική υποστήριξη κλινικών περιστατικών, στην απώλεια βάρους, στη διατροφή κατά την εγκυμοσύνη και τον θηλασμό, καθώς και στη διατροφική εκπαίδευση παιδιών και εφήβων. Στόχος της είναι η ουσιαστική βελτίωση της υγείας και της ποιότητας ζωής, μέσα από μια ολιστική και επιστημονικά τεκμηριωμένη προσέγγιση.

Παρέχονται εξατομικευμένα προγράμματα διατροφής, προσαρμοσμένα στις ανάγκες, τις ιδιαιτερότητες και τις προσωπικές προτιμήσεις του κάθε ατόμου. Ωστόσο, η προσέγγιση δεν περιορίζεται απλώς στη χορήγηση ενός διατροφικού πλάνου. Η κα Ραάτ πιστεύει βαθιά ότι η πραγματική αλλαγή έρχεται μέσα από τη διατροφική εκπαίδευση, την κατανόηση του σώματος και των σημάτων του, καθώς και την καλλιέργεια μιας υγιούς σχέσης με το φαγητό.

Η φιλοσοφία της βασίζεται στην ενσυναίσθηση, τον σεβασμό και τη συνεργασία. Κάθε άνθρωπος είναι μοναδικός και γι’ αυτό η διατροφική υποστήριξη λαμβάνει υπόψη όχι μόνο τις διατροφικές ανάγκες, αλλά και τις συναισθηματικές, κοινωνικές και πρακτικές παραμέτρους της καθημερινότητας. Στόχος δεν είναι η στέρηση, οι απαγορεύσεις ή οι ενοχές, αλλά η προσέγγιση της πραγματικής διατροφής που χωρά την απόλαυση, τη συνειδητότητα και τη βιωσιμότητα στον χρόνο.

Komninou Eui is a Psychologist, graduate of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, with a professional license to practice. She conducts online counseling and psychotherapy sessions with children, adolescents, and adults. She maintains a strong commitment to continuous education and professional development, having attended numerous seminars and specialized training programs. Since 2023, she has gained valuable experience by completing her internship at the Mental Health Center of the Armed Forces. She has engaged in both psychological assessment using psychometric tools and individual and group sessions with children, adolescents, adults, and families, addressing issues such as addiction management, bridging family relationships, couples therapy, parental counseling, self-image improvement, and enhancing self-awareness. Her goal is to create a safe and supportive therapeutic environment where authentic connection and meaningful psychological support are cultivated with respect for the uniqueness of each individual, through an approach grounded in empathy and acceptance. She invests in creating a trusting space where the individual can freely express themselves without fear of judgment. In this context, particular emphasis is placed on psychological safety, confidentiality, and a consistent therapeutic relationship, taking into account the needs, experiences, and uniqueness of each person.

Panopoulos Panagiotis is a Clinical Dietitian - Nutritionist and head of the Dietetic and Counseling Center in Ilioupoli, a facility that also operates a Mental Health Counselor. Mr. Panopoulos specializes in diabetes mellitus, clinical nutrition, pediatric and adolescent nutrition, eating disorders, nutritional counseling, life coaching, as well as the management of morbid obesity and metabolic inactivity. He has extensive professional experience since 1995 in hospitals, sports, education, aesthetic and weight loss centers, intolerance centers, kindergartens, pregnancy and postpartum centers, and has delivered numerous lectures in primary and secondary education and nursing homes. Additionally, through specialized nutrition programs, he addresses issues of sluggish metabolism, overeating, picky appetite, psychological binge eating, food intolerance - allergies, menopause, cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, kidney function, cardiological cases, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastric disorders.

Vandorou Anastasia is a Clinical Dietitian – Nutritionist, MSc and maintains a private practice in Kallithea (within the polyclinic Doctor Hall). She is a graduate of Harokopio University, holding a Master's degree in Applied Dietetics – Nutrition with a specialization in Clinical Nutrition. She has extensive experience with cases such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, childhood obesity, thyroid diseases, and metabolic disorders, and has collaborated with both private and public health institutions. She has participated in research programs and publications in international scientific journals, as well as in health education initiatives. With scientific expertise and a patient-centered approach, she provides personalized nutritional support aimed at prevention and health improvement.

Papadimitriou Eirini MD, MSc, PhDc is a highly qualified and experienced endocrinologist, with extensive clinical training and academic activity, maintaining a private practice in Kallithea. She is a graduate of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, holding a master's degree in Research of Female Reproduction, and her doctoral thesis focuses on pituitary tumors. She specialized in Endocrinology at the Endocrinology Department of the General Hospital of Athens "G. Gennimatas," at the First Pediatric Clinic of the General Children's Hospital of Athens "P. & A. Kyriakou," where she was trained in managing pediatric endocrinology cases, and at the General Hospital of Athens "Elena Venizelou," where she trained in endocrine disorders during pregnancy. She also has clinical experience in a variety of endocrine diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders, parathyroid gland diseases, osteoporosis, menstrual and menopausal disorders, hypogonadism, adrenal/pituitary diseases, endocrine hypertension, obesity, and lipid disorders. She has participated in numerous Greek and international conferences, presenting her research and clinical cases. Furthermore, she has published in reputable international scientific journals, continuously advancing the field of endocrinology. She is an active member of the Hellenic Endocrinological Society and a collaborator at the General Hospital of Athens "G. Gennimatas."

Maria Mpotsari is a Psychologist specializing in school psychology and cognitive behavioral therapy for adults, children, and adolescents, and maintains a private practice in Alimos. She has completed undergraduate studies in Psychology at the Université de Strasbourg and is continuing her studies in School Psychology at the University of Patras. Concurrently, she has trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adults at the Center for Applied Psychotherapy & Counseling, and has attended numerous specialized seminars and training programs (WISC-V, Play Therapy, Parent Counseling, Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology, etc.). She has experience in psychological assessment (including administration of the WISC-V), psychotherapeutic support for children, adolescents, and adults, as well as parent counseling. She has worked in clinical and educational settings, such as the Support and Family Center, the "Together for the Child" program, and the Center for Applied Psychotherapy & Counseling. Her focus is on a holistic approach to mental health, utilizing modern therapeutic methods and creative tools such as psychoeducation through play and the development of personalized materials (e.g., emotion cards, worksheets). She is particularly sensitive to issues related to neurodevelopmental disorders, ADHD, autism spectrum, and school difficulties.

Vamvakari Konstantina is a Dietitian-Nutritionist who has operated a private practice in Agios Dimitrios, Attica, since 2023. She graduated from the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Thessaly (formerly TEI of Thessaly) and is a member of the Hellenic Association of Dietitians-Nutritionists (HADN), holding a professional license. As part of her continuous education, she specialized with postgraduate studies in Clinical Nutrition at Harokopio University.

Antoniou Stauroula is an Endocrinologist with a private practice in Alimos. She holds a degree from the Medical School of the University of Patras, specializing in Endocrinology - Diabetology. She has worked as a Scientific Collaborator - Endocrinologist at the Gynecological Hospital - Maternity "Elena Venizelou." During her endocrinology training, she completed two years of internal medicine where she acquired experience in managing not only internal medicine cases but also nephrology cases; additionally, during her four-year endocrinology training, she gained experience in Pediatric Endocrinology. She provides high-level services for the evaluation, management, and regulation of all endocrine disorders, including pituitary, adrenal, thyroid, and parathyroid diseases, diabetes mellitus and obesity, gestational diabetes, menstrual disorders, as well as osteoporosis. Concurrently, she offers specialized services for the management of male infertility and erectile dysfunction. With absolute confidentiality and a scientific approach, the physician places great emphasis on thoroughly informing the patient about the condition and the proposed treatment, providing psychological and emotional support.

Christina Papageorgiou is a Clinical Psychologist and Sociologist, a graduate of Deree-The American College of Greece and Panteion University. She holds a Professional License and is a Psychotherapist, trained in Systemic Psychotherapy at the Center for Applied Psychotherapy and Counseling KE.PSY.SY. She has finished the master's program in Clinical Psychology at the Erasmus University of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, as she has also attended the master's program in Special Education and Rehabilitation at the University of Macedonia. Finally, she has a diploma in Applied Counseling from KE.PSY.SY. At present, she works, alongside her private office, as a Psychologist in a Center for Special Treatments and continues to attend educational programs and trainings in her field. Provides individual sessions, couples' counselling, parents' counselling, and LGBTQI+ counselling, live and online, as well as in English.

A Step Beyond is a center for Counseling, Psychotherapy, Personal Development, Wellness, and Prosperity Growth. It was established by Kentro Psyxikis Ygeias Kai Euimerias A Step Beyond - Katranis Konstantinos Kai Synergates with the aim of providing therapies to individuals who wish to overcome their problems, to make their lives fuller and more beautiful, and to be guided towards wellness and prosperity through the necessary and appropriate means. The center’s specialists act as allies and companions for those who seek to discover new strategies and apply them, to enhance and utilize their internal resources, to learn new things or to view old matters from new perspectives, to heal traumas, to acquire new skills, to overcome fears and phobias, to eliminate chronic stress, and to live mindfully in the present moment, setting goals and achieving them. At A Step Beyond, the individual’s needs are addressed by selecting the appropriate specialist from among the trained Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Mental Health Professionals, or Personal Development Counselors to design a flexible and tailored evolution plan for each person.