National weight loss campaign

There is weight in numbers and over 150 people have adhered to this philosophy and embarked on a weight loss programme to shift the pounds and adopt a healthy lifestyle.

L-iSfida ghall-Kbar Biss (The Challenge for Adults, a title coined as a pun on 'big' people) is a free, 12-week programme geared for persons over 25 who need to lose weight.

The brainchild of popular television presenter and singer Claudette Pace, the idea for a national weight loss campaign was sparked when Ms Pace wanted to lose weight, while creating an awareness on expanding waistlines in Malta.

The idea grew when she bounced it off St James Hospital and it now includes the Health Promotion Department, numerous fitness experts, nutritionists, psychologists and entities that have all voluntarily joined in to address this national problem.

Over 150 people have already applied, with more expected to join this initiative, which Ms Pace insists is not a TV programme, but a concerted drive to lose weight together under the proper guidance of experts.

"Like many, I have often joked about my weight, but of course it got to me. There is no diet that I have not tried, from teas, to tablets... you name it, I have tried it," she said.

"My life has been a yo-yo of dieting and then putting the weight back on soon after. I had many misconceptions about losing weight and this is why we are doing this, so that together we can change our attitude for life," Ms Pace told a press conference yesterday.

The programme was launched at St James Hospital in Sliema and attended by Health Minister Louis Deguara, Hospital chairman Dr Josie Muscat and his indefatigable daughter Maria Bugeja, who has worked hard to see this project materialise.

Ms Pace referred to the alarming statistics that over 60 per cent of the Maltese are either overweight or obese, while Maltese children were the most obese in the EU.

"L-iSfida is not just about losing weight. This is about a change in our mentality and adopting a completely new lifestyle," she added.

Dr Deguara welcomed this initiative and admitted that gauging from his personal experience it had been harder to quit smoking over 30 cigarettes a day than shedding weight.

"I recognise that what these people have embarked on is truly a great challenge, but under the right direction I am sure they can succeed," he said.

"This challenge has to last a lifetime and will mean a drastic change in lifestyle habits," Dr Deguara added.

Obesity was being recognised by the World Health Organisation as the "epidemic of the 21st century" with conditions including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and other chronic problems.

Apart from being a health concern obesity also puts a great weight on the country's infrastructure because tackling the growing number of diseases would drain the country's resources.

Dr Muscat said doctors were seeing and dealing with the problem of obesity continuously.

"People who start to shed weight start reaping the benefits instantly," he said.

Explaining how the programme will work, Ms Pace said that the 150 applicants will be split into smaller groups of 10 people, according to their weight and needs.

Each group will meet two hours once a week at one of the fitness centres associated with this challenge and also be provided with a healthy eating plan that has to be approved by the department and the hospital.

In each session professional nutritionists will monitor the eating habits and weight of participants, while gym instructors will guide them through an adequate fitness programme.

Ms Pace thanked all those who had chosen to voluntarily support this weight loss campaign including a number of fitness centres and private entities.

A meeting is being held at the Catholic Institute, Floriana, tomorrow at 6 p.m. for all the applicants, and those wishing to join. Anyone wishing to help or join the challenge can call 7941-4345.

Applications can be collected from St James Hospital in Sliema, Zabbar and Gozo or Transforma Clinic in Attard and Zabbar. Otherwise visit www.di-ve.com