How should the obese patient be managed? Possible approaches to a national obesity management network

There is clearly a need for novel approaches to obesity and its management. This has been addressed by the Czech Society for the Study of Obesity, which established a multi-level obesity management network in response to the increasing prevalence of obesity in the Czech Republic. This network includes obesity management centres attached to major teaching hospitals, combined with input from obesity specialists, other specialists, primary healthcare physicians and weight reduction groups. Such an obesity management system aims to provide appropriate diagnostic and treatment facilities for various degrees of obesity throughout the country. The proposed density of the obesity management network takes into account the limited resources in the healthcare system. The network is designed to overcome the current poor level of understanding of obesity and the lack of time and financial resources which have been the most significant barriers to more involvement of primary care physicians in obesity management. In order to implement this system, a comprehensive education programme on obesity was initiated with postgraduate courses for obesity specialists and with training for counsellors of weight reduction groups.