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

Anna Georgiou BSc, MSc is a Dietitian-Nutritionist and maintains a private practice in Agia Paraskevi. She holds a degree from the Dietetics department of Queen Margaret University in Scotland and a postgraduate degree in "Applied Dietetics and Nutrition" from Harokopio University of Athens. She has worked as a Clinical Dietitian at the Athens Medical Center, and currently, in addition to her private practice, she works as a Dietitian-Nutritionist at IASIS Medical Diagnostic Centers. Finally, she is a regular member of the Hellenic Association of Dietitians-Nutritionists.

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.

Gkougkoulia Anna is a Dietitian - Nutritionist and maintains a private practice in Vrilissia. She holds a degree in Nutrition (BSc in Human Nutrition) from the University of Westminster, London, and a Master's degree (MSc) in "Applied Dietetics - Nutrition" with a specialization in "Nutrition and Public Health" from Harokopio University of Athens. She is a member of the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists, the Panhellenic Association of Dietitians - Nutritionists, and the Hellenic Atherosclerosis Society, and has contributed presentations and papers at conferences.

Iliopoulos Dimitrios MD, PhD is a Specialist in Internal Medicine - Diabetology with a private practice in Marousi. He holds a PhD from the Medical School of the University of Crete. He has specialized training in diabetology and serves as a scientific collaborator at the diabetes center of the 2nd University Clinic at the General Hospital of Athens "Hippokration." He is also an internal medicine collaborator at the "Mitera" Hospital. His primary goal is a patient-friendly approach, thorough clinical examination, and timely diagnosis and management of medical issues. In a simple and explanatory manner, patients fully understand their condition, are informed about the latest medical data, and have any questions addressed. The practice manages a wide range of conditions such as infections, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and hyperlipidemia (cholesterol). Preventive screening is also conducted, including clinical examinations and the prescription of laboratory and imaging tests. Finally, the physician provides health certificates for sports and work, as well as medical reports for submission to KEPA committees.

Panagiotou Maria - Anna is a Psychologist (BSc) and Psychotherapist specializing in Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy. She graduated from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and holds a professional practice license valid nationwide (License No: 1401991). She has worked as a Psychologist at the Elderly Care Unit "Rodi" in Filothei, as well as an external collaborator in a Medical Clinic and an English tutoring center to support employees and students. Additionally, she has volunteered in various settings, including public elderly care units and telephone support platforms. She has been trained in the Behavioral-Cognitive approach (higher education) at KEPSYSY in areas such as anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, psychosomatic disorders, depression, traumatic experiences, relationship issues, and has specialized in the non-pharmacological management of geriatric issues and caregivers, including dementia, grief, and anxiety at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She works with both adults and adolescents on family matters, crisis management, school performance, and violence-related issues. Her approach is based, among others, on the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy model by Ellis, Beck's Cognitive Therapy model, as well as Meichenbaum's Cognitive-Behavioral Modification. Finally, the specialist is a member of the Hellenic Psychological Society (SEPS). Guided by empathy, authenticity, and scientific practices, individuals will progressively be able to manage life situations effectively. For optimal service provision, she is supervised and participates in personal psychotherapy.

H Δρ. Κολομβότσου Αναστασία είναι πτυχιούχος Διαιτολόγος - Διατροφολόγος, μέλος του Πανελλήνιου Συλλόγου Διαιτολόγων - Διατροφολόγων, με ιδιωτικό γραφείο στο Νέο Ψυχικό. Κάτοχος μεταπτυχιακού διπλώματος M(Med)Sc στη Διατροφή με εξειδίκευση στη Δημόσια Υγεία στο Πανεπιστήμιο της Γλασκώβης, Μεγάλης Βρετανίας και διδακτορικού τίτλου με εξειδίκευση σε καρδιαγγειακά νοσήματα και μεταβολικό σύνδρομο από το Τμήμα Επιστήμης Τροφίμων και Διατροφής του Ανθρώπου, Γεωπονικό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών. Εν συνεχεία, με βάση το ενδιαφέρον της στην υγεία πληθυσμών σε κίνδυνο, ολοκλήρωσε το δεύτερο μεταπτυχιακό στη διαχείριση κρίσεων και τη διεθνή ιατρική στο Εθνικό & Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών. Διαθέτει σπουδαίο και αναγνωρισμένο ερευνητικό έργο με την συμμετοχή σε διάφορες μελέτες, τη συγγραφή επιστημονικών άρθρων σε περιοδικά παγκόσμιας απήχησης, όπως το Am J Clin Nutr, Epidemiologia, κεφαλαίων σε βιβλία διατροφής και μεταφράσεις. Με στόχο την διαρκή ενημέρωση και εξειδίκευση, παρακολουθεί ετησίως συνέδρια και έχει υπάρξει η ίδια ομιλήτρια σε επιστημονικά συνέδρια, σε σχολεία και σε πληθυσμιακές ομάδες ακριτικών περιοχών ως μέλος των Κινητών Ιατρικών Μονάδων. Διαθέτει κλινική εμπειρία έχοντας εργαστεί σε ως Κλινική Διαιτολόγος - Διατροφολόγος στο Νοσοκομείο "Υγεία" και στην Πολυκλινική Ολυμπιακού Χωριού. Ακόμη, εξειδικεύεται σε καρδιαγγειακά νοσήματα, υπέρταση και μεταβολικό σύνδρομο, στο σακχαρώδη διαβήτη και στην απώλεια σωματικού βάρους. Αναλαμβάνει και έχει σημαντική εμπειρία σε διατροφική αντιμετώπιση ΙΦΝΕ (Ιδιοπαθείς Φλεγμονώδεις Νόσοι του Εντέρου) σε παιδιά και ενήλικες, σε διατροφή εγκύων και ατόμων μεγαλύτερης ηλικίας των 65 ετών. Επίσης αξιολογεί (αναλύσεις διατροφικού ιστορικού και εξετάσεις) και συμβουλεύει σε υιοθέτηση υγιεινής διατροφής. Εστιάζει στην εξατομίκευση των προγραμμάτων διατροφής με σεβασμό στις ιδιαιτερότητες του κάθε ατόμου/ασθενούς (ιδιαίτερες γευστικές προτιμήσεις, vegan, vegetarian), στις οικογενειακές συνήθειες, με λύσεις πρακτικές, έτσι που να μπορούν να πετύχουν το στόχο τους και την θεραπεία τους, βελτιώνοντας την υγεία τους υγιεινοδιαιτητικά, χωρίς φαρμακευτική αγωγή όπως και την εικόνα σώματός τους. Πετυχαίνουν τους στόχους τους άτομα πολυάσχολα, με απαιτητική καθημερινότητα, ιδιαίτερες συνήθειες και ανάγκες ακόμη και απογοητευμένα άτομα, μετά από πολυάριθμες προσπάθειες απώλειας βάρους. Παρέχει και διαδικτυακή παρακολούθηση σε Ελλάδα και εξωτερικό.

Trikoili Eirini is a Psychologist with a private practice in Neo Irakleio, offering psychotherapeutic support and psychological assessment services. Her goal is to create a safe, supportive, and collaborative environment in which adults, adolescents, and children can experience understanding, trust, and care. She is a graduate of Panteion University, with postgraduate training in School Psychology from Unic. Her psychotherapeutic approach is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (trainee member of the Society of Cognitive Behavioral Studies / EABCT), which is enriched—depending on the needs of the client—with elements from other approaches. She has experience in the psychotherapeutic process, psychological and psychometric assessment, implementation of individualized interventions, parental counseling, and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams. She has worked as a Psychologist in the private sector, managing therapeutic cases using a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach, as a school psychologist at KEDASY, as a psychologist at the Aeromedical Center, and at a Center for Special Therapies.

Thomopoulou Aleksia is a Dietitian - Nutritionist who operates two private dietetic clinics, located in the Marousi area and Neos Psychiko. She completed a postgraduate program in International and Public Health and Nutritional Program Design at the University of Westminster in London, having previously studied at the Department of Nutrition of the University of Surrey, United Kingdom. Her extensive professional experience is noteworthy, as she has worked as a Dietitian in hospitals, companies, medical centers, and associations across Greece. Specifically, she was employed in the Oncology Department of the Medical School of Athens at the General Thoracic Diseases Hospital "Sotiria," where she specialized in the nutritional support of patients with neoplastic diseases. Additionally, she collaborated with the Home Care company “Medella” as a Scientific Advisor on issues related to cancer and the nutritional support of oncology patients. Simultaneously, she voluntarily provided her services as a Dietitian for the Hellenic Society of Palliative and Symptomatic Care for Cancer Patients (PARI.SY.A.) and the cancer patients’ association "K.E.F.I." Finally, she has been a collaborator of the Gastroenterology Department of the Athens Medical Center and the "THORAX" Institute. Throughout her career, she has participated in conferences—many of which she has addressed as a speaker—focusing on the nutrition of oncology patients.

Elena Papathanasopoulou MSW, Dip Psych (Hons) is a Psychotherapist - Mental Health Counselor with a private practice in Cholargos. She studied Psychology in the Department of Philosophy, Pedagogy, and Psychology at the University of Ioannina and subsequently at the Open University in the UK (Diploma in Psychology). Additionally, she completed postgraduate studies in the USA at the Smith College School for Social Work (Massachusetts) with a Fulbright scholarship. Upon returning to Greece, she continued her training at the Hellenic Psychoanalytic Society. She has worked as a therapist in psychotherapeutic centers in the USA and Athens. She possesses extensive teaching experience (in psychodynamic counseling seminars for mental health professionals and at the Technological Educational Institute of Patras). She has also worked in parent training schools and on various research projects. She has numerous presentations at conferences and educational and continuing education programs abroad and in Greece, as well as publications in scientific journals in Greece. She is a member of the British Psychological Society, the Hellenic Association of Social Workers, and the Hellenic Psychoanalytic Society. In her private practice, she treats a wide range of conditions such as anxiety disorders, depression, self-awareness, generalized anxiety disorder, interpersonal difficulties, mood disorders, using psychodynamic psychotherapy and counseling as her primary therapeutic modalities.

Valia Xristopoulou - Theranous is a Psychologist - Psychotherapist based at the private TheraNous office in Drosia. She holds a degree in Psychology from the University of Ioannina and is a postgraduate student at the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in the "Early Intervention in Psychosis" program. She specializes in stress management, with a particular focus on early intervention in forms of psychopathology, mental, and emotional disorders. She has completed the Clinical Psychopathology Postgraduate Seminar "Panagiotis Oulis" of the 1st Psychiatric Clinic of NKUA and the Interdepartmental Training Program of the Hellenic Society of Group Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, focusing on group dynamics. She has worked as a Psychologist at KETHEA Epirus and the Psychiatric Clinic of the General Hospital of Argolida, where she gained valuable experience supporting individuals with addictions as well as managing severe mental disorders in a hospital setting. Simultaneously, she is training in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy through the five-year program of the Hellenic Society of Group Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (HSGPP), strengthening her theoretical knowledge and clinical practice. Her goal is to provide meaningful psychological support, both through individual and group sessions, tailored to the needs of each person seeking help and change in their life.

Iliana Papadopoulou is a clinical dietitian-nutritionist with ten years of experience in clinical cases, which she acquired in major hospitals in the United Kingdom. Over the past four years, she has worked exclusively in one of the largest nephrology departments at Manchester Royal Infirmary in the United Kingdom, where she managed a broad range of patients with kidney diseases, supervised, and was the responsible dietitian in dialysis centers. She is recognized as a certified dietitian meeting the requirements set by the Health and Care Professions Council of the United Kingdom and is a member of both the British and Greek Dietetic Associations. Iliana maintains a private practice in Vrilissia. Her primary focus is the nutritional assessment of patients and the provision of nutritional education and guidance by offering personalized dietary programs based on their needs using evidence-based practice. She specializes in kidney diseases and also provides services for other clinical conditions such as gastroenterological and hepatic disorders, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, eating disorders, food intolerances, nutrition across life stages, and particularly in the elderly. Her office also offers body composition analysis and bioelectrical impedance measurement using the globally recognized and accurate Tanita analyzer. Additionally, she provides the capability for immediate communication with patients through a dedicated mobile application.

Dr Anamaterou Xrysanthi is an Endocrinologist - Diabetologist, PhD graduate from the University of Heidelberg in Germany, and maintains a private practice in Marousi. She holds a medical degree from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and completed her specialization in Endocrinology and Diabetology at the University Hospital of Heidelberg in Germany. She has worked as an Endocrinologist - Diabetologist in a private polyclinic in Frankfurt, Germany, and has served as an endocrinology registrar at the University Hospital of Heidelberg. She specializes in thyroid gland disorders and has particular expertise in the management of thyroid cancer and other endocrine tumors (adrenal glands, pituitary gland, neuroendocrine tumors, endocrine syndromes). Additionally, she has experience in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and metabolic disorders. Due to her doctoral dissertation, she specializes in parathyroid gland diseases (calcium and vitamin D metabolism) and osteoporosis.

Trigonis Sotirios is a General Practitioner with a private practice in Agia Paraskevi. He graduated from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, holds a postgraduate degree in Public Health from the National School of Public Health, and a postgraduate diploma from EKAB in Emergency Prehospital Medicine. He has extensive experience in managing emergency cases, home care, and treating patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obesity, while also implementing the Eurodiet medical weight management method. In addition to his private practice, he serves as an emergency and chronic disease management physician at the modern polyclinic of Alimos. Previously, he was the head of emergency cases at the Polyclinic of the Olympic Village and served as Scientific Director at the Health Center of Keratea. Furthermore, he continues to collaborate with numerous private clinics to date.