Keep moving, it suits you, advises association

The Malta Association of Physiotherapists is raising awareness on obesity on the occasion of World Physiotherapy Day, which was marked earlier this month.

Throughout September, the association is holding an awareness campaign called Movement For Health throughout hospitals.

The association said the campaign has two aims: to promote the scope of physiotherapy and raise awareness about its contribution while communicating the importance of preventing ill-health and promoting well-being.

The association said there is worldwide concern about the ever-increasing obesity epidemic, which is one of the greatest challenges to healthcare systems around the world. In fact, 350 million people around the world are obese.

It said this number can be linked to the fact that at any one time some five per cent of a country's population is affected by low back pain, 180 million people around the world have diabetes while cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and stroke account for 29 per cent of the world's deaths.

Moreover, the local situation is alarming, with children being among the fattest in the EU.

As exercise experts, physiotherapists should join the worldwide concern for the growing epidemic of obesity, the association believes.

"Our advice throughout this campaign is simple: keep active," it said, adding that under 18-year-olds need 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day while adults need 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five times a week or 20 minutes of vigorous physical activity three times a week to maintain good health.