In Europe, the rates of physical inactivity remain high. In a 2010 Eurobarometer survey it resulted that 60 per cent of European respondents answered that they hardly ever exercised or practised a sport.

Physical inactivity was defined as failing to engage in exercise in 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity five times a week. Thirty-one per cent of the world’s population fall under this definition and in Malta the rate goes up to a staggering 72 per cent, the highest rate recorded.

We can say that any type and amount of physical activity is beneficial; walking is the main physical activity of choice.

It has been shown that a reduction in coronary heart disease mortality in middle-aged men results from moderate leisure-time physical activity.

Modest activity levels are considered adequate for cardio-protection and bone maintenance. This is important from a public health standpoint because most adults are relatively inactive overall. Therefore, they may be more likely to comply with a programme of moderate exercise than with a vigorous regime, which is more tiring and prone to injuries.

Activities that are enjoyable and that are promoted within the context of a healthy lifestyle have a greater tendency to be maintained. Physical activity is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle and essential for disease prevention.

Regular physical activity can improve the quality of life, general health and sense of well-being.

Malta ranks as the member State with the most obese population. However, prior to joining the EU in 2004, Malta had already launched a National Sports Act (Chapter 455 of the Civil Code) to encourage and promote sport.

A National Environmental and Health Action Plan (2006-2010) was launched in 2006 and followed, in 2007, by a medium-term plan, entitled ‘Reshaping sports – towards personal development, health and success’.

A national strategy promoting physical activity is the best hope for reducing the toll of lifestyle-related diseases

In 2009, priority was given to children through an action plan entitled ‘Investing in our children’s education’. In July 2013, an anti-obesity campaign was launched by the Department of Health.

These initiatives are rather sporadic and not delivering.

We need to step our efforts in order to change the figures towards a nation that is more physically active and less obese.

A national strategy involving all sectors of society is needed to promote EU physical activity guidelines and to monitor physical activity levels and policy implementation.

Ways must be found to motivate people across the board to get out of their chairs and perform periods of regular physical exercise that they enjoy doing.

A national campaign can be introduced and aimed at increasing the knowledge of potential risks to health that inactivity can cause – physically, mentally and socially. It will also provide the opportunity to explore attitudes to, and, perceptions of, physical activity.

The programme will help in developing decision making, assertiveness as well as self-esteem.

It will also raise awareness of how the media, advertisements, role models and the views of other persons and society can influence physical activity.

This education programme will be used as a primary prevention measure because it is conducive to informed healthy lifestyle choices.

It was found that, for children and young adults, the best correlate for physical activity was time spent outdoors.

So, in any proposed campaign, children and young people are encouraged to use less time on the computer and playing games and spend more time outdoors.

If walking is ideal in winter, it will be a good idea to encourage people in general to swim and young people to take part in water sports.

It is known that access to physical activity programmes and facilities will encourage people to use them.

Physical activity programmes need to be offered to different sectors of the population as all sectors can benefit from them, including people with disabilities.

Different physical activities are performed in different settings and some activities need special equipment. Therefore, it is more practical and economical to promote mostly activities which do not need special venues or equipment such as walking and swimming, which is most often done in one’s neighbourhood.

All villages in Malta and Gozo can offer spaces where people can take a safe walk close to where they live.

Children need to be encouraged to use less time in sedentary behaviour such as watching TV or using the computer and more time in physical activity.

The President’s Run/Walk for Charity and similar initiatives connected to other good causes are excellent mass activities which, apart from collecting money, also make people involve themselves in some physical activity.

Local councils can organise physical activities in their locality and exercise and fitness programmes for different sectors of the population and also improve the environment by creating walking trails and country walks and promote their use.

People need to be motivated to make their own decisions and nothing should be imposed on them.

Physical activity can be promoted on a nationwide scale by involving all stakeholders like public health authorities, fitness centres, parks and recreation areas, the correctional facility, the transport authority, employers, sports organisations, churches, schools, the National Commission for Persons with Disability and the mass media.

In schools, it is important that from kindergarten classes up to post-secondary level at least one hour of physical activity is included in the daily curriculum.

The education authorities need to stress the importance of physical education in primary schools, where the subject is too often sidelined by academic subjects.

This hour of physical activity includes physical education and recreative time, teaching the children the importance and benefits of physical activity and values in practice as part of an active lifestyle.

Many laws and policies may have indirect or unintended effects on physical activity. For example, budget cuts for parks and recreational areas may affect indirectly in a negative way physical activity. Policies that provide for massive funding for roads and little for walking trails, bicycle trails and improvement of the countryside may create barriers to physiacal activity.

On the other hand, making available school gymnasiums for use by the public will help in enabling physical activity. Studies show that older people are more active when their local communities have facilities and activity programmes.

A national strategy to promote physical activity in the population in general is the best hope for reducing the toll of lifestyle-related diseases that continue to be epidemic in developed countries, including Malta and Gozo.