Fernando Teles
Fernando Jorge Silva
Fernando Póvoas
Doctor
He became famous for the diets he prescribed, and is the doctor to whom many public figures go when their weight becomes a problem. It was a practice that he began in a health centre when he was a general practioner, and the good results naturally led him to specialise in this field. Today he has clinics in Oporto, Lisbon and Luanda, as well as several books dedicated to weight loss and healthy living. Not to mention his passion for FC Porto, where he was a doctor for 22 years and is a member of the governing bodies. It’s not by chance that he often has Pinto da Costa for company on his morning walks.
Are the people who come to you to lose weight usually more concerned about image or health?
In my clinical practice I come across both situations. However, many patients who are initially motivated solely by aesthetic issues end up feeling countless benefits to their health. Weight loss, when done with a balanced food plan and tailored physical exercise plan, always brings health benefits, even for aesthetic reasons. We must not forget that excess weight carries with it many diseases, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, vascular and osteoarticular problems, as well as being a major cause of heart attacks and strokes.
Is it possible to be happy when dieting?
The term «diet» has negative connotations in our society, but etymologically it means «way of life». And if we choose a way of life that brings us energy, greater vitality, greater and better longevity, we can only feel happy. If we see the term «diet» as a diet aimed at weight loss, which is too restrictive and does not match the needs of the person, then I can understand that it may not be a source of pleasure. However, this is just a bad way of understanding the process of weight loss.
«I have spent my life making women even more beautiful, elegant and healthy»
There has been a new wave of chefs, who advocate the choice of fresh and seasonal produce. Does this make life easier for those who want to dine out and have a healthy diet?
If we opt for seasonal produce, we are always making the most of every food and this can only be beneficial to health and the environment. This practice, more than being adopted on occasional meals out, should be a daily habit in our homes.
What benefits do you find in your walking habit?
Walking, in addition to helping weight loss, has a number of advantages: it fights osteoporosis, improves sleep quality, improves respiratory capacity in addition to relaxing the mind, strengthening muscles and improving self-esteem.
You have opened several stores in recent years. What led you to enter the fashion industry? Has it been a successful operation?
I have spent my life making women even more beautiful, elegant and healthy, and being well dressed will certainly raise their self-esteem. I have two showrooms, in which I represent several brands of clothing, essentially Italian, which I sell to different stores in Portugal and Africa and to the six stores I have in Oporto, Lisbon and Freeport, with which I am very satisfied in business terms.
