About HELIOS

HELIOS (Healthier Life with Obesity) is a Centre of Clinical Excellence based at the University Hospital of Southern Denmark in Esbjerg. The center addresses obesity as one of the most pressing health challenges of our time, affecting both individual health and wider society.

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes, liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and sleep disorders, but its impact goes far beyond physical health. Many people living with obesity experience reduced quality of life, social inequality, and stigma, while obesity-related diseases are often underdiagnosed and insufficiently addressed.

Against this background, HELIOS aims to contribute to a healthier life for people living with obesity through an integrated approach that combines clinical practice, research, and knowledge dissemination.

 

A holistic and individualized approach

HELIOS is founded on a holistic understanding of obesity as a complex condition shaped by biological, psychological, social, and structural factors. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all perspective, the center works towards more individualized and patient-centered care.

A central part of this ambition is to improve early detection and treatment of obesity-related diseases, while at the same time addressing inequalities that arise within both society and the healthcare system. The center also seeks to generate new knowledge on the causes, progression, and consequences of obesity-related diseases, enabling better prevention, earlier diagnosis, and more effective treatment.

This work is driven by a strong synergy between patients, clinical practice, and research, where clinical experience informs research questions and research findings are translated directly into improved care.

 

A strong clinical and research foundation

HELIOS builds on the South Danish Obesity Initiative (SDOI), which provides a unique clinical and research infrastructure. The initiative includes a structured screening program for obesity-related diseases, a comprehensive clinical database, and an associated biobank, enabling large-scale and longitudinal research.

You can read more about the initiative here (in Danish):
👉 https://esbjerggrindstedsygehus.dk/afdelinger/diabetes-og-hormonsygdomme/syddansk-overvaegtsinitiativ

This foundation allows HELIOS to identify new biomarkers and risk factors, study disease mechanisms, and develop evidence-based strategies for screening and treatment. 

 

Collaboration and ambition 

HELIOS is organized as a multidisciplinary and collaborative effort involving clinical departments, research units, and national and international partners. The center is supported by a structured organisation including leadership teams, work packages, and advisory boards with both scientific experts and patient representatives, ensuring high scientific quality and strong patient involvement.

Funded as part of the Region of Southern Denmark’s Centres of Clinical Excellence program, HELIOS represents a 5-year commitment to improving the understanding and management of obesity.

Through interdisciplinary research, clinical innovation, and strong partnerships, the center aims to reduce the health burden and inequalities associated with obesity and to contribute to more effective, personalized, and equitable care.