Obesity specialists in Slovakia and Czechia

If you are looking for an obesity specialist, you have probably decided to deal with your weight with a doctor rather than alone. The questions are who to see, how long the wait is, and what your insurer pays for. Here is what public sources say for Slovakia and Czechia, including the insured route, which is cheaper for many people.

Who an obesity specialist is

An obesity specialist (obezitológ in Slovak, obezitolog in Czech) is a doctor who works in diagnosing and treating obesity. In Slovakia it is not a separate specialty. In a 2022 interview with Zdravotnícky denník, the president of the Slovak Obesity Association explained that obesity clinics in the strict sense do not exist in Slovakia, because there is no obesity subspecialty. Instead, GPs, diabetologists and other specialists with training in obesity medicine do this work.

In Czechia, obesity clinics and centres exist at hospitals. The General University Hospital in Prague runs an obesity centre within its Third Department of Internal Medicine, providing care both as an outpatient service and during hospital stays, in close cooperation with bariatric surgery. The field is still taking shape: in November 2023 the Czech Ministry of Health and the Czech Obesity Society discussed adding obesity medicine to postgraduate training.

The Slovak Obesity Association describes obesity as a complex, relapsing chronic disease, not a question of willpower, which is why it is managed over time with regular check-ups rather than in one visit.

How to get to one

In both countries the usual first step is your GP. In Slovakia, the obesity association describes the GP's role as identifying risk factors, classifying obesity and, where needed, passing the patient on to a specialist. It publishes a list of clinics that work in obesity, for adults and for children, at obesitas.sk, and acknowledges that access is best in the largest cities.

In Czechia, a referral matters for coverage. Havířov Hospital, for example, states that a consultation with its obesity specialist is covered by health insurance, but only with a referral (žádanka) from a GP or another specialist. Some hospitals also run insured programmes; one launched at Agel Ostrava-Vítkovice Hospital in summer 2026 combines exercise therapy, physiotherapy and nutritional guidance, on referral from a specialist.

Conditions vary between clinics, so when you book, ask whether you need a referral and whether the clinic has a contract with your health insurer.

What insurers cover, and what they do not

Slovakia: according to the Slovak Obesity Association (2022), health insurers cover the first examination and a follow-up check every six months, a frequency set by a Ministry of Health decree for patients diagnosed with obesity. Behavioural therapy, nutritional counselling and exercise programmes are not, and consultations between the six-monthly checks are paid by the patient.

Czechia: a consultation with an obesity specialist is covered with a referral, as Havířov Hospital describes.

In both countries the insured route is real and cheaper, and if it suits you, use it. Your doctor or insurer can tell you where you stand.

How long the wait is

For Slovakia we found no published waiting times. The obesity association says they vary with how busy each clinic and its team is, so the most reliable approach is to ask when you book, or to call several clinics on the list.

In Czechia, the General University Hospital in Prague listed an average wait of 10 weeks for its obesity clinic in February 2023; its more recent lists no longer show obesity separately. More generally, a 2025 survey by the Czech Association of Outpatient Specialists found that a quarter of people cannot get a specialist appointment within three months. So in Czechia, expect weeks to months.

What the first visit involves

It varies between clinics. Havířov Hospital publishes a clear description: the doctor goes through your medical history and the medicines you take, then a clinical examination, an assessment of body composition measurements, an ECG and laboratory results, and information about the treatment options. Where needed, you are sent for further tests, such as an ultrasound, more detailed blood work, a sleep study or an endocrinology examination. The first visit there takes about 30 to 45 minutes, and a check-up 20 to 30 minutes.

Where an online consultation fits

The insured route is cheaper and right for many people, but not for everyone. Some have no suitable clinic nearby, some do not want to wait, and some want more frequent contact with a doctor than insurance covers.

That is what an online consultation through a.clinic is for. You fill in a medical questionnaire, pay, and have a twenty-minute video consultation with a licensed doctor who works in obesity care. The doctor assesses your health and decides whether any treatment is appropriate for you. If they prescribe something, you receive an electronic prescription that you collect at any pharmacy.

The first consultation costs €79 and includes your first month of care. After that it is €29 a month, with a short review with your doctor each month, and you can cancel at any time. Medication is bought separately at a pharmacy. Health insurers do not reimburse consultations through a.clinic.

An online consultation does not replace everything. A physical examination, a multidisciplinary team or surgical treatment happen in person. Your doctor may suggest you take something to your GP or a specialist, and that is a good outcome of a consultation too.

What is an obesity specialist?

A doctor who works in diagnosing and treating obesity. In Slovakia it is not a separate specialty, so it is usually a GP, diabetologist or other specialist trained in obesity medicine. In Czechia, obesity clinics and centres exist at hospitals.

Do I need a referral to see an obesity specialist?

For insured care, the usual route is a referral from your GP. In Czechia, Havířov Hospital, for example, requires one for the visit to be covered. You do not need a referral for an online consultation with a.clinic.

Does health insurance cover an obesity specialist?

In Slovakia, according to the Slovak Obesity Association (2022), the first examination and a six-monthly check are covered. In Czechia, a consultation with a referral is covered. Consultations through a.clinic are not reimbursed by insurers.

How long is the wait?

It depends on the clinic. We found no published figures for Slovakia. In Czechia, one Prague hospital listed 10 weeks for its obesity clinic in 2023, and a quarter of people wait over three months for specialists generally. Ask several clinics.

How do I find an obesity specialist near me?

In Slovakia, the Slovak Obesity Association lists clinics for adults and children at obesitas.sk. In both countries, your GP can point you to clinics nearby.

Can an online consultation replace an obesity specialist?

Not entirely. A doctor online assesses your situation and decides on next steps, but a physical examination or a multidisciplinary team happen in person. If you need that, the doctor will tell you where to go next.

Sources

• Zdravotnícky denník, interview with the president of the Slovak Obesity Association (29 Nov 2022)
• Slovak Obesity Association, obesity clinics in Slovakia
• Slovak Obesity Association, management of the patient with obesity
• Havířov Hospital, questions and answers on non-surgical obesity treatment (2024)
• Czech Ministry of Health, meeting with the Czech Obesity Society (21 Nov 2023)
• General University Hospital in Prague, Obesity Centre XXL
• General University Hospital in Prague, waiting times (1 Feb 2023)
• General University Hospital in Prague, waiting times (3 Feb 2026)
• Novinky.cz, survey by the Czech Association of Outpatient Specialists (14 Feb 2025)
• Novinky.cz, obesity programme at Agel Ostrava-Vítkovice Hospital (30 Jul 2026)

a.clinic is a technology platform. Healthcare is provided by a licensed doctor, who decides whether any treatment is appropriate for you. We do not decide about specific medicines and do not write about them.