Written by: Rosie Kuglie
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In today’s fast-paced world, problems such as obesity and burnout syndrome have become alarming. Obesity stands out as one of the key health challenges of our time – not only for aesthetic reasons, but above all because of the real impact excess weight has on the quality and length of life.
Obesity is associated with numerous diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disorders. Countries like Croatia are also facing high obesity rates and, consequently, an enormous economic burden: the costs of treating obesity-related conditions in Croatia are estimated at €1.7 billion annually. At the same time, chronic stress and burnout syndrome leave serious consequences on both mental and physical health – including the cardiovascular system – pointing to the necessity of approaching health in a comprehensive and coordinated way.
Amid a sea of crash diets, quick fixes, and often contradictory weight-loss advice, it is truly refreshing to encounter an approach that does not promise a „miracle overnight,” but instead offers thorough, science-based, and compassionate support. Zagreb is fortunate to have such a place – one with a simple but important mission: to give people the opportunity to dedicate themselves to their health in a way that does not burden them, but empowers them.
This place is Polyclinic Kardiomet, the first cardiometabolic centre setting a new standard in weight regulation and overall health care.
Medical Expertise with the Atmosphere of a Wellness Center
Polyclinic Kardiomet, located in Zagreb (Ulica grada Vukovara 271, Chromos Business Center), is a modern facility dedicated to weight regulation and the promotion of healthy habits. Every detail of the space is designed to support the physical and mental well-being of patients throughout their journey to better health. It comes as no surprise that many visitors describe Kardiomet as an oasis of health. Here, medical expertise merges seamlessly with the ambiance of a wellness centre.
Behind this project stand its founders, two remarkable women – Marijana Oreb and Tea Šalinović – longtime friends and visionaries in the field of healthy living. Recognizing the lack of a concept on the market that brings together everything necessary for successful and healthy weight loss, they decided to open an interdisciplinary centre that would offer exactly that.
This polyclinic is a place that is changing the perception of health in society, providing a holistic approach focused on long-term results and quality of life. In a very short time, Kardiomet has been recognized as a leader in the field of weight management and integrated health in Croatia.
Interdisciplinary Team and Individualized Care
What makes Polyclinic Kardiomet truly unique is its multidisciplinary team and individualized approach to every patient. Imagine that your health and progress are not overseen by just one doctor, but by an entire council: a cardiologist, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, nutritionist, psychologist, and physiotherapist – each from their own field of expertise, yet aligned in a shared goal of achieving long-term balance of body and mind, that is, healthy weight loss.
At Kardiomet, this is the reality: experts from as many as fourteen branches of medicine join forces to design a personalized program for each individual, ensuring lasting results.
Within Kardiomet, specialists in internal medicine and cardiology, endocrinology and diabetology, gastroenterology, radiology, physical therapy and orthopedics, nutrition, psychology – as well as urology, pulmonology, allergology, dermatology, and other fields – all work together, creating a small universe of medical expertise dedicated to the patient.
– Such a comprehensive team makes it possible to carefully examine and address every aspect of health related to excess weight: from hormonal balance and metabolism, to cardiovascular health, dietary habits, psychological challenges, or sleep disorders. „Our team of physicians offers individualized programs tailored to each patient, supported by the latest medical technologies – explains Marijana Oreb.
Individualized Programs Instead of a „One-Size-Fits-All Diet”
The first encounter with a patient at this polyclinic does not resemble a routine ten-minute check-up, nor does it involve handing out a generic diet plan on paper. On the contrary, the first appointment is a conversation – detailed, warm, and unhurried.
The goal is first to get to know the person: to learn not only how many kilograms they wish to lose, but also why they want to lose them, what motivates them, what they struggle with, and how they feel in their own body.
Only after forming a complete picture does the medical analysis begin. This includes advanced diagnostics (laboratory tests, body composition measurements, ultrasound examinations, and more), but also something often missing in a rushed healthcare system – attentive listening to the patient.
Health problems associated with excess weight are rarely simple; they are usually a „tangle” of hormones, lifestyle habits, emotions, daily stress, and heredity. That is why, at Kardiomet, no one receives the same plan – each weight-loss program is tailored to the individual, with full respect for their specific circumstances.
After the initial consultation and diagnostic process, the team of experts works together to create a personalized plan for the patient. This may include nutritional support with a meal plan adapted to the person’s health condition and lifestyle, the introduction of controlled physical activities or medical exercise under the supervision of a physiotherapist, as well as psychological counselling aimed at changing habits and strengthening motivation.
For many patients, detailed medical interventions are carried out simultaneously: for example, the regulation of endocrine disorders, cardiological examinations and therapy for cardiovascular risk factors, or gastroenterological treatment of digestive problems that often accompany obesity.
It is important to highlight that Polyclinic Kardiomet follows the latest achievements of medical science in treating obesity. In addition to lifestyle changes, pharmacological therapies for obesity are also introduced when necessary – including modern medications whose effectiveness in promoting weight loss has been scientifically proven.
In recent years, drugs from the GLP-1 group (such as semaglutide injections and similar) have gained significant attention worldwide for their ability to substantially reduce appetite and support weight loss. Kardiomet’s team keeps track of such trends and applies medications they determine to be safe – always under careful medical supervision and monitoring.
– The combination of a personalized approach and expert medical guidance enables patients to make sustainable changes and build a healthier future. The Kardiomet team closely monitors each patient’s progress, with regular check-ups and plan adjustments as needed, creating programs rooted in scientific knowledge and individual needs. This kind of continuous care ensures not only that patients achieve their desired results, but also that they maintain them long-term. On this journey, no patient is ever left on their own, as expert support is available at every step – from day one through to the maintenance phase of a new body weight and lifestyle – emphasizes Marijana Oreb.
Anti-Aging Institute Maratea – The Synergy of Medicine and Aesthetics
One of the innovative aspects of Kardiomet’s concept is the connection between medical weight loss and care for the aesthetic changes that often accompany it. Significant weight loss can bring new challenges – such as excess skin, tissue laxity, or reduced muscle tone – all of which may affect a patient’s satisfaction with the final results.
Aware that health is not just a number on the scale but also about feeling comfortable in one’s own body, the founders introduced the Anti-Aging Institute Maratea as an extension of patient care.
Although Maratea operates at a separate location in Zagreb (Park Kneževa), it is part of the unique Kardiomet concept – providing aesthetic body adjustments during and after the weight loss process.
A Name That Tells a Story
Behind the name Maratea stand two remarkable women and one idea: Marijana Oreb and Tea Šalinović combined their names – Mara + Tea – into a single word that has become a symbol of trust. The name is therefore more than a brand: it is a manifesto of partnership, medical competence, and top-level aesthetics, as well as a message that health and beauty last best when considered together.
– Polyclinic Kardiomet was born from the desire to offer people a comprehensive solution to help them take control of their health and their lives. Our interdisciplinary team and personalized approach allow each patient to achieve long-term results in a healthy and sustainable way. With the support of our Anti-Aging Institute Maratea, we provide additional aesthetic care so that the body and skin adapt to the weight loss process, ensuring complete transformation and greater satisfaction with results – says Marijana Oreb.
Meanwhile, Tea Šalinović explains that the highest standard is consistency that lasts. She elaborates:
– At the Anti-Aging Institute Maratea, patients continue their „transformation” with the help of the latest achievements in aesthetic medicine. The focus is on non-invasive treatments that stimulate the body’s natural processes of skin renewal and body contouring, ensuring results that are both visible and natural. Available treatments use advanced technologies – for example, Alma PrimeX, which combines ultrasound and radiofrequency for effective fat reduction and skin tightening, or the InShape Plus device, which applies high-intensity magnetic muscle stimulation to restore body tone and firmness.
A very popular method is lymphatic drainage, known for improving circulation, supporting the body’s detoxification processes, and relieving the feeling of heaviness – particularly beneficial as a complement to weight loss or on days when the body needs extra care.
For facial care, there is the unique Face Workout – a combination of manual and device-assisted massage techniques that stimulate the facial muscles, boost circulation, and reduce signs of fatigue, restoring freshness and vitality to the skin.
A special segment consists of pelvic floor muscle-strengthening treatments, designed for women facing sensitive issues such as incontinence. This is a completely non-invasive method that uses magnetic impulses to strengthen the pelvic muscles, giving patients back a sense of control and security in their own bodies. Although seemingly separate from the topic of weight loss, this aspect fits perfectly into the philosophy of holistic care for quality of life – since health and self-confidence are deeply interconnected.
Thus, Maratea is not a classic aesthetic centre, but a natural continuation of the medical journey that begins at Polyclinic Kardiomet.
– Kardiomet and Maratea together form a complete concept of health and aesthetic revitalization, offering patients the rare opportunity to achieve both medical and aesthetic goals in one place – through coordinated expert teams – says Tea Šalinović.
Vision and Mission: Health as the Balance of Body, Mind, and Aesthetics
Marijana Oreb and Tea Šalinović wanted to create a place that offers people comprehensive support in the fight against excess weight – and it is fair to say they have fully achieved their goal.
– Kardiomet is a partner that does not give up when the scale stops moving. That is why, instead of cycles of weight loss followed by quick regain, here the maintenance phase is built from day one: structured check-ups, micro-strategies for ‘high-risk periods,’ psychological support, medically based nutrition, and – when indicated – pharmacotherapy that stabilizes the biological triggers of hunger. Maratea, in turn, provides a so-called ‘visual anchor,’ so that the functional result reduces the risk of relapse, which usually leads to the yo-yo effect – emphasizes Marijana Oreb.
Character and Continuity
In an era of quick promises and slow results, Polyclinic Kardiomet restores to medicine what matters most – character and continuity. It places obesity where it belongs: at the very centre of cardiometabolic care; it translates burnout and stress into measurable protocols; and it transforms its interdisciplinary team into an arsenal of knowledge in the service of one goal – lasting health.
Together with Maratea, Kardiomet closes the circle of transformation: the cause is treated, the process guided, the result sustainable. Skin, muscles, and contours follow the metabolism; the body becomes coherent, and the face refreshed – with balance and style.
Instead of aggressive diets and rushed solutions, here the focus is on gradualness and sustainability; instead of judgment, understanding; instead of a mere medical treatment, collaboration on the path of change.
– We do not offer shortcuts – we offer a path. This approach brings not only a smaller clothing size, but also increased self-confidence, better overall health, and a sense of balance and satisfaction with life. That is why this project is not just a business venture, but our personal mission. We wanted to create a place that changes the perception of health in society, because we believe that health is not merely the absence of disease, but the balance of body and mind. It is not about a magic wand, but about support that enables lifestyle changes to take root and endure – concludes Tea Šalinović.
