Adam struggled with weight loss throughout his teenage years until, at 18, thanks to his strong will and support from the children’s health resort in Křetín, he finally began to lose weight. He reflects on what contributed to his success:
Dalibor Pastucha|Photo: Ivana Šuláková, Czech Radio
“I weighed 103 kilos before I went to the health resort. My main motivation was sports. I used to play soccer, but I couldn’t keep up and was slower than the others.”
The idea came from his pediatrician when she saw that he was struggling with excess weight. There are many more children like him, and their numbers are growing. According to last year’s data from the National Institute of Public Health, up to a quarter of children in Czechia are overweight. Pediatrician and sports physician Dalibor Pastucha on another problem:
“There is an increase in the number of morbidly obese children, that is, children weighing 140 kilograms or more. For these children, the probability of a full recovery is very low or nonexistent.”
Dispensary care
According to the Ministry of Health’s draft decree, overweight and obese children should be under the supervision of their pediatricians from January 2026.
Until now, pediatricians have monitored overweight or obese children at their own discretion and also based on the availability of programs, for example, from insurance companies. This will now be mandatory, as is the case with other serious diseases. According to pediatrician and obesity specialist Zlatko Marinov, this may lead to the early detection of potential patients.
“If a child is found to be overweight, they are immediately referred to a clinic and invited for a check-up based on the severity of their condition, ideally within six months for overweight and within three months for obesity.”
Zlatko Marinov|Photo: Jana Přinosilová, Czech Radio
Parents should obtain information from pediatricians as soon as the problem is identified on how to adjust their child’s diet, daily routine, sleep, and exercise. Doctors will then check the effectiveness of these changes during check-ups. According to Marinov, parents often lose consistency.
Dalibor Pastucha agrees, saying that changes must always start with the parents:
“We always strive to work with the entire family and help them change their lifestyle, so they can support the child and create the best conditions for weight loss.”
The goal of the change is to provide children with timely and long-term care that will help them avoid serious health problems in the future.