Obesity Health Centre Contact / book

About OHC

A multidisciplinary obesity-care centre in Pretoria

Obesity Health Centre supports people living with obesity through clinical care, education, treatment planning, bariatric surgery support and long-term follow-up. We are based at Zuid-Afrikaans Hospital in Pretoria and work with a team of experienced healthcare professionals.

Meet the team Book an assessment
Waiting-room armchairs and a bench beneath tall windows.
The Obesity Health Centre rooms at Zuid-Afrikaans Hospital, Pretoria.

We believe obesity care should be

01

Medical

Obesity is a chronic condition that deserves proper clinical assessment.

02

Multidisciplinary

No single practitioner can address every part of obesity care.

03

Ethical

Patients deserve realistic information, informed consent and responsible communication.

04

Personalised

Treatment is based on the patient’s health, history, risks and goals.

05

Long-term

Sustainable care continues after the first appointment, prescription or procedure.

Our clinical leadership

Our team

OHC works with experienced bariatric and metabolic surgery leadership and a broader multidisciplinary team. The team’s experience includes bariatric and metabolic surgery, minimally invasive surgery, medical obesity care, dietetics, psychology, counselling, physiotherapy and long-term patient support.

Your care may include support from:

  • Bariatric and metabolic surgeons
  • Physicians and medical specialists
  • Dieticians
  • Psychologists and counsellors
  • Physiotherapists
  • Practice administration and patient-support teams

Each person plays a role in helping patients understand their options, prepare responsibly and receive long-term support.

Dr Thinus Smit, bariatric and metabolic surgeon, photographed in the practice waiting room.
Dr Esther Mowat
Dr Esther Mowat General practitioner, focused on obesity medicine Coordinator facilitates appointments
Dr Yanila Nyasulu
Dr Yanila Nyasulu Specialist physician Coordinator facilitates appointments
Dr Tony Johns
Dr Tony Johns Anaesthetist Coordinator facilitates appointments
Dr Carin Human
Dr Carin Human Counselling psychologist Make your own appointment
Magda Senekal
Magda Senekal Physiotherapist Make your own appointment
Dr Thinus Smit
Dr Thinus Smit General surgeon with bariatric surgery
Dr Rouxzanne Roos
Dr Rouxzanne Roos General surgeon with bariatric surgery
Francette Bekker
Francette Bekker Bariatric dietitian
Nicola Drabble
Nicola Drabble Bariatric dietitian
Hesme Kruger
Hesme Kruger Bariatric coordinator
Liza Kleynhans
Liza Kleynhans General surgery coordinator
Lerina Erasmus
Lerina Erasmus In-room procedures and authorisations

Dietitians: The dietitians guide your nutrition before surgery, help you prepare for the pre-operative diet, support your eating phases after surgery, and assist with long-term nutritional success.

Where care happens

The rooms, the theatre and the hospital

OHC consults at Zuid-Afrikaans Hospital in Pretoria. Assessment, planning and follow-up happen in the practice rooms; surgery and inpatient recovery happen in the hospital alongside them.

A consulting room seen through its open door, two armchairs beside a bookshelf.
The waiting room with brass honeycomb shelving above a row of white armchairs.
Two white armchairs against a dark wall, flanked by ferns.
The corridor between the consulting rooms, a painting lit at the far end.
A framed painting of two cyclists on a country road, above a console of trailing plants.
A quiet visitors’ lounge with a teal sofa beside a sunlit window.
A sterile instrument tray prepared for surgery.
A surgeon's hand holding a pair of protective loupes before a case.
Two theatre staff preparing anaesthetic equipment before a list.
An anaesthetist at the head of the table during induction.
The full surgical team at work in theatre under the operating lights.
The ZAH lettering on the perforated canopy above the hospital entrance.
The white Cape Dutch gable of the original Zuid-Afrikaans Hospital building against a clear sky.
The original bell hanging in the whitewashed gable arch.
The brick walkway and palms between the hospital wings.
The colonnaded veranda running along the original hospital wing.
The garden walk outside Zuid-Afrikaans Hospital, with the bell tower beyond.
Close detail of the 1904 mosaic floor, the word “Hospitaal” set in tile.
A corridor in the original hospital wing, receding towards a sunlit doorway.
The face of the bronze Little Company of Mary nursing sister.

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Our promise to patients

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We will not shame you.

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We will not reduce your story to a number.

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We will not push one treatment as the answer for everyone.

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We will help you understand your options and take the next responsible step.

Learn more about our wider role

OHC is also part of a broader obesity-care ecosystem, working with doctors, professional bodies, partners and the Obesity Community Fund to support responsible care, education and access.

Our role in obesity care
Medical disclaimer: Information on this website is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual results vary. Please consult a healthcare professional for personalised medical guidance. Bariatric surgery and weight-loss medication may not be suitable for everyone — a medical assessment is required. Patient stories and testimonials are shared with consent; results vary from person to person and are influenced by multiple medical, behavioural and lifestyle factors.