Children’s Hospital Šentvid pri Stični (Slovenia)
1. Short hospital overview
Children’s Hospital Šentvid pri Stični is a specialised healthcare institution in Šentvid pri Stični, Slovenia. It focuses on rehabilitation and inpatient care for chronically ill children and adolescents (ages 0–19) across a wide range of medical conditions. Beyond treating the illness itself, the hospital aims to prepare children for daily life with a chronic condition through a comprehensive, whole-child approach. Hospital schooling (primary education) is provided during longer stays, and care is delivered by an interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary team (including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics, speech therapy, social work, psychology, and psychotherapy, alongside medical staff).
Hospital at a glance
| Address | Šentvid pri Stični 44, 1296 Šentvid pri Stični, Slovenia |
| Phone | +386 1 788 74 50 |
| info@bos-sentvid.si | |
| Website | https://www.bos-sentvid.si/en/ |
2. Healthy Lifestyle School (healthy lifestyle intervention)
The hospital’s Healthy Lifestyle School is a structured, medically supervised intervention designed to help children and adolescents build sustainable habits that support healthy weight, fitness, and overall well-being.
2.1 Target group and goals
The program is intended for children and adolescents who have:
- Excess body weight
- Unhealthy eating habits
- Poor use of free time (low physical activity / sedentary routines)
- Early signs of obesity-related health issues
Its goals are to improve nutrition and physical activity routines, strengthen psychosocial coping skills, and help families establish healthier patterns at home.
2.2 Core intervention components
Nutrition education and daily routines
- Basics of balanced eating: what to eat, when, and why
- Building a healthy plate and choosing appropriate foods
- Hydration and regular mealtimes
- Keeping a healthy eating diary
- Understanding how excess weight affects the body
Physical activity
- Regular movement is built into the stay, with activity options outdoors and indoors (gym) as well as in the pool.
- The emphasis is on finding enjoyable forms of movement and transferring them into everyday life after discharge.
Psychosocial support
- Group and individual counselling focused on self-confidence, self-esteem, and social skills.
- Support for behaviour change and maintaining motivation.
Parent / caregiver involvement
- Workshops and lectures provide practical tools to support healthy routines at home.
- Education covers nutrition, physical activity, behaviour change, and emotional support.
2.3 Medical supervision and diagnostics
Children are under medical supervision throughout their stay and continue hospital schooling. The hospital performs a comprehensive health evaluation that may include:
- Blood sugar, HbA1c, and glucose tolerance testing
- Complete blood count
- Lipid and liver panels
- Lung function tests and spirometry
- Hormone levels (as needed)
- Ultrasounds of the thyroid and liver
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Sleep studies (if indicated)
- Aerobic fitness test (Rockport) and muscle strength testing
- Body composition analysis (InBody 770 scale)
If results suggest additional risk or comorbidities, the program notes referral to relevant specialties (e.g., endocrinology, cardiology, psychiatry).
2.4 Reported outcomes and effectiveness
The hospital reports the following positive outcomes after program participation:
- Reduced body fat and body fat percentage
- Improved overall physical fitness
- Increased motivation for active leisure time
- More than half of participants continue to successfully reduce body weight at home after completing the program
- Almost all reduce the use of fats and sugar in their home diet.
JUDO4CO - Innovative Erasmus+ Program for Children with Obesity 