Towards low-cost fitness

Awareness and action are both necessary ingredients to stop obesity from becoming an epidemic (Health Promotion Official Wants Action Not Figures, June 10). The Health Promotion Unit is instrumental in creating awareness and supporting other entities to conduct activities to combat obesity. Statistics are important to convince the government to take action. Action is already being taken through physical education classes, Kunsill Malti għall-Isport activities and by private clubs. This has proved not to be enough and this is one of the reasons why the Malta Exercise Health and Fitness Association has been set up. MEHFA's motto is "More people more active more often". We also know that one victory kitchen cannot feed all Malta and the same applies to fitness - it is not a question of who is providing it but the need for quality and public engagement in activity.

The government can continue to help in this regard by providing free outdoor gyms. MEHFA has already promised that if these gyms are set up, it will provide free personal trainers during certain hours to help the public train wisely; to train smarter not harder. The promenades created by the government are making a contribution because they encourage people to walk. In October MEHFA will launch a project entitled Walk With Us. More synergy is needed by all those involved.

MEHFA will also be reaching that sector that does not attend gyms or go out to walk - those who prefer to exercise at home - by providing the online personal trainer ( www.mehfa.eu ). As WHO's health behaviour research has found out, the overweight and obesity percentages are on the increase at a young age among people who are quite computer literate and, therefore, can make good use of the online personal trainer for their daily activity.

The Body Mass Index (BMI) on its own might not give a true statistical picture. As MEHFA we suggest that any research should include percentage fat and one's body shape, whether apple or pear shaped, as fat around certain parts of the body is considered to be more dangerous for health than in other areas.

Healthy eating is a must but one has to strike a balance. One cannot expect to preach about the food guide pyramid if the cost of fruit and vegetables are sky high because this will be telling low-income families to spend all their money on food. Telling a parent to put chicken breast instead of processed ham in a child's sandwich might not be appealing to everyone as chicken costs more than a slice of ham. Price is also a detrimental factor in fitness. MEHFA has been set up to try and make fitness available at a low cost.

The public will understand that to move from statistics to action is also a financial question and there is a limit in this regard, but making the public aware of low-cost physical activity or free activity is the responsibility of the government and MEHFA. In fact, MEHFA is also helping other European countries who do not have a similar association to create one - so that all 27 EU member countries will be striving to have "More people more active more often".

It is high time that there is synergy between all stakeholders and it is time to allocate fitness, leisure and wellness to a ministry with a separate permanent secretary as the demands are growing from different sectors. At least we have already moved in the right direction by having a parliamentary secretary in this legislature and hopefully we will move further to see Malta gaining momentum in this respect.