The Failure of Public Health is Failing the Health of the Public
Obesity is a Genuine Problem in Malta
It is unforgiveable that this problem is not being addressed
Even more so when it can be and should be prevented in the future
More information and statistic including a series of charts and graphics, can be found on the Eurostat website regarding Overweight & Obesity – BMI statistics
If it was costing us €36m per annum in 2018 and the problem is materially worse now – how much is the failure of Public Health costing us today?
They knew - and they have failed to tackle this throughout the past decade
The Food and Nutrition Policy and Action Plan for Malta 2015-2020 was released in September 2014 by none other than Dr Fearne and Profs Charmaine Gauci!
The numbers speak for themselves, the nation’s health has got worse not better
They even conducted the “National Food consumption Survey” – twice – acknowledging “Malta clearly has a number of medical conditions stemming from food, and this survey aims to look at both the quality and quantity of foods eaten. We will then base a number of decisions and campaigns around healthy eating on the results.”
“The traditional Maltese cuisine has been primarily Mediterranean, based on seasonal agricultural products and seafood and with strong Sicilian influence. Over time and with advancing development, there has been a rapid shift from a state of food shortage to one of affluence, based in a cultural context where the identity is no longer Mediterraneanbut has a strong Anglo-Saxon influence.” (Tessier and Gerber, 2005)
“National awareness-raising and education campaigns on healthy eating and physical activity take place on a regular basis and target both the general population as well as specific population groups. These have focused on the Mediterranean diet, and the regulation of portion sizes. Ongoing campaigns also promote seasonal fruit, vegetables and fish and waste reduction. About 22% of the amount of food purchased every week ends up as solid waste.”
The 2022 Study on Childhood Showed They Made It Worse
From 2014 to 2018 EVERY category declined!
When compared to Health Behavious in School Children (HBSC)
Boys 50% over the average and Girls are TWICE the average!
Obesity: another dangerous pandemic
In May 2022 with one pandemic nearly over (at least according to the minister for health) obesity needs to become the next major battleground for the health authorities – according to an opinion piece in the Times
“The local public health authorities profess to be taking the problem seriously. Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci said recently that Malta’s efforts to tackle it are centred on addressing childhood obesity.”
“Malta has for years topped overweight and obesity lists, with predictions by the World Obesity Federation published in March suggesting the problem is set to worsen and over a third of the adult population will be obese by 2030.”
According to the World Health Organisation European Regional Obesity Report 2022 obesity rates were ballooning (no pun intended) and that no country of the 52 in the region was on track to meet the 2025 target
“The high prevalence of adult and childhood pre-obesity and obesity in Malta, the associated additional cost burdens on public expenditure, and the impact of obesity on morbidity, quality of life, mental wellbeing and life expectancy underlie the decision to focus this review on the Government’s efforts aimed at reducing the prevalence of pre-obesity and obesity.”
“This review sought to conclude whether progress has been registered in reducing the pre-obesity and obese prevalence rates, whether Government has undertaken sufficient and effective efforts to address pre-obesity and obesity.”
“To assess whether the targets set in 2012 in the Healthy Weight for Life Strategy were reached by 2020.”
The Verdict
“The data reviewed either indicates no progress, or, in most cases, provides evidence of regression.”
“The NAO’s overall assessment in terms of the achievement of the targets set is negative.”
Despite the obesity crisis continuing to worsen on her watch, in November 2023 Profs Charmaine Gauci led yet another study: this itme to look at:
– barriers to maintain a healthy weight;
– responsibility to address obesity: and
– assess parental support for 22 policies aimed at addressing childhood obesity.
“The food environment was more commonly identified as a barrier to maintain a healthy weight than the physical activity environment”
“Parents were least supportive of taxation policies and most in favour of increasing spaces available for safe physical activity and providing free weight management services for children.”
More than one year on are you aware of any change??
