Nutrition and dietetics

Clinical nutrition deals with problems related to nutrition in a broad sense, aiming to achieve and maintain an adequate state of nutrition.

Clinical nutrition activities range from nutritional assessment, to artificial nutrition, as well as counseling in cases of malnutrition and problems of overweight and obesity.

We deal with the metabolic nutritional aspects related to various diseases such as:

• Overweight/obesity.
• Malnutrition.
• Gastrointestinal diseases.
• Food intolerances and allergies.
• Kidney diseases.
• Metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, gout, dyslipidemia.
• Eating disorders.

Diagnosis for a treatment plan

For the care of patients with obesity and overweight and for the multidisciplinary care of patients malnourished due to various diseases, followed in various specialty areas (oncology, gastroenterology, nephrology, pulmonology, and surgery), an evaluation with setting up a treatment plan is useful:

• Nutritional assessment: clinical, laboratory, or instrumental evaluation by bioimpedance and indirect calorimetry.
• Artificial nutrition counseling and setting: prescription of dietary supplements, enteral or parenteral nutrition.
• Malnutrition counseling: quantitative or qualitative verification related to different diseases.
• Obesity-related problems: personalized therapeutic project that may focus on nutritional, psycho-behavioral aspects and, in some cases, pharmacological therapies. In selected cases we collaborate with the EOC Department of Surgery where bariatric surgery can be performed.

Dietary therapies

The Service provides specific dietary advice for both healthy eating and diet therapy applied to various case histories such as allergy, celiac disease, diabetes, dyslipidemia, gout, food intolerances, malnutrition, kidney disease and dialysis, gastrointestinal diseases, and overweight/obesity.

Scientific guidance in the dietary field is offered, finding the right fit between clinical picture, medications, eating habits, and lifestyle.

Consultations are offered both on an outpatient and inpatient basis.

Eating disorders (DCA)

The EOC collaborates with theCantonal Socio-Psychiatry Organization (CSO ) to treat eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge eating disorder and unspecified disorders). The various professionals including psychiatrists, psychologists, nutritional physicians, nurses and dietitians work closely together to address the complexity of the disease.

Directions for outpatient dietary consultations recognized by health insurance companies

• Metabolic disorders (diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, etc.).
• Obesity (body-mass-index over 30) and diseases consequent to overweight or concomitant.
• Cardiovascular diseases.
• Diseases of the digestive system.
• Diseases of the kidneys.
• State of malnutrition or undernutrition.
• Food allergies or allergic reactions due to food.

Taking charge

The EOC offices in Bellinzona, Lugano (Civico and Italiano), Mendrisio and Locarno have diet clinics. Outpatient intake of patients is done after dietary prescription by the sending FMH physician.

Collaborations

• Center for Bariatric Surgery for the Treatment of Obesity.
• The EOC Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Service collaborates with specialists in the multidisciplinary management of eating disorders:
  Center for Eating Disorders (EDC) of the Cantonal Socio-Psychiatric Organization (CSO).