OBJECTIVES: Smoking is an important risk factor leading to many diseases, which brings substantial healthcare costs as well as indirect costs due to decreased productivity. This article aims to quantify the social costs of smoking in the Czech Republic in 2019. METHODS: The prevalence-based, cost-of-illness approach is used, which assesses the costs as the sum of direct (healthcare) costs and indirect costs (productivity losses due to mortality and morbidity). The costs of healthcare utilization and pharmacotherapy in direct costs, and the costs of absenteeism, presenteeism, and premature mortality in indirect costs, are included. RESULTS: Total costs of smoking in the Czech Republic in 2019 are estimated as 2110.6 million EUR (0.94% of GDP). Direct costs amounted to 537.0 million EUR (2.9% of health expenditures in 2019) and indirect costs were 1573.6 million EUR, mainly driven by the costs of premature mortality (1062.5 million EUR). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the declining trend in the prevalence of smoking in the Czech Republic, the associated costs are considerable. Investments into strategies to reduce smoking continue to be needed.

• Keywords
• I12, I18,
• MeSH
• Absenteeism MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Smoking * economics   epidemiology   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Health Care Costs * statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Cost of Illness * MeSH
• Mortality, Premature MeSH
• Presenteeism economics   statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Prevalence MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Health Expenditures * statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic epidemiology   MeSH

BACKGROUND: The increased prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Czech Republic and Slovakia has led to heightened emphasis on weight control, particularly among women. Our aim is to explore body image perceptions among women in both countries and compare their attitudes, focusing on the relationship between body image and body mass index (BMI), height, weight, body fat and the weight control. METHODS: The cross-sectional study involved 358 female students from the University of Pardubice and Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, with equal representation from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Body parameters were assessed using anthropometric methods and the InBody 230 diagnostic device, while participants' perceptions of their bodies were evaluated using the Body Shape Questionnaire. RESULTS: The results confirmed that BMI did not significantly influence self-perception among Slovak students, while Czech participants with increasing obesity tended to perceive themselves more negatively. Significantly higher median values for BMI (p = 0.0509), weight (p = 0.0507), height (p = 0.05) and body image (p = 0.002) were observed in the Czech Republic compared with Slovakia. No significant difference was found in weight control and fat between participants from both countries. CONCLUSIONS: Although obesity was demonstrated in both nations, body satisfaction was different for participants from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

• MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Body Mass Index * MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Obesity epidemiology   psychology   MeSH
• Body Image * psychology   MeSH
• Cross-Sectional Studies MeSH
• Surveys and Questionnaires MeSH
• Self Concept MeSH
• Students statistics & numerical data   psychology   MeSH
• Body Weight MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH
• Slovakia MeSH

Digital weight loss interventions present a viable and cost-effective alternative to traditional therapy. However, further evidence is needed to establish the equal effectiveness of both approaches. This randomized controlled non-inferiority trial aimed to compare the effects of an intensive in-person weight loss intervention program with Vitadio digital therapy. One hundred patients with obesity and diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, or insulin resistance were enrolled and randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups. Over a 6-month period, the control group received five in-person consultations with a physician who specialized in obesity treatment, a dietitian and/or a nutrition nurse, while the intervention group followed the digital program based on a multimodal therapeutic approach. The extent of weight loss was assessed and compared between the groups. Additionally, changes in body composition and metabolic parameters for the digital intervention group were analyzed. The study results demonstrated comparable effectiveness of both treatments for weight reduction. The positive effects of Vitadio were further evidenced by favorable changes in body composition and lipid metabolism and improved glycemic control in the intervention group. These findings suggest that Vitadio is an effective tool for assisting patients with managing obesity and preventing diabetes progression.

• Keywords
• diabetes mellitus type 2, digital therapeutics, insulin resistance, lifestyle intervention, obesity,
• MeSH
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 * therapy   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Weight Loss * MeSH
• Insulin Resistance MeSH
• Blood Glucose metabolism   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Obesity * therapy   MeSH
• Prediabetic State * therapy   MeSH
• Weight Reduction Programs * methods   MeSH
• Body Composition MeSH
• Telemedicine MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Randomized Controlled Trial MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Blood Glucose MeSH

OBJECTIVE: To provide an assessment of the cost burden of obesity across a spectrum of obesity-related comorbidities (ORCs) for four countries in South-Eastern Europe (SEE). METHODS: A micro-costing analysis from the public payer perspective was conducted to estimate direct healthcare costs associated with ten obesity-related comorbidities (ORCs) in Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, and Romania. A survey was administered to obtain healthcare resource use and unit cost data. Cost estimates were validated by local steering committees which comprised at least one public sector clinician and a panel of independent industry experts. RESULTS: Chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular diseases were the costliest ORCs across all 4 countries, where annual cost burden per ORC exceeded 1,500 USD per patient per year. In general, costs were driven by the tertiary care resources allocated to address treatment-related adverse events, disease complications, and associated inpatient procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm that the high prevalence of obesity and its comorbidities result in substantial financial burden to all 4 SEE public payers. By quantifying the burden of obesity from a public healthcare perspective, our study aims to support policy efforts that promote health education and promotion in combating obesity in the region.

• Keywords
• Cost analysis, Economic burden, Financial costs, Obesity,
• MeSH
• Financial Stress * MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Health Care Costs MeSH
• Obesity epidemiology   MeSH
• Cost of Illness MeSH
• Health Promotion * MeSH
• Prevalence MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH