Are pastizzi and timpana mainly to blame for the Maltese being fatter than most other nationalities in the world?

A study, to begin this summer, will seek to provide an answer to the question that is raised every time new international research confirms that the Maltese are among the big winners in the obesity leagues.

“Doctors take decisions based on their evidence, and even in politics, we need to base our policies and preventive information campaigns on local evidence,” Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearne said yesterday at the launch of a pilot project that will precede the €200,000 National Food Consumption Survey.

“Are pastizzi, timpana and luminata contributing to obesity? We don’t have a study yet that shows where obesity is coming from.”

Some 100 people, aged seven upwards, will take part in the pilot study. They will be interviewed and asked to provide a detailed list of the food and drinks consumed in the previous 24 hours. They will also be weighed and measured and interviewed again between four to six weeks later.

This pilot exercise will help the Health Promotion Directorate amend any flaws in the methodology in preparation for the larger study involving 1,300 people that will kick off in September and span a year.

Are pastizzi, timpana and luminata contributing to obesity? We don’t have a study yet that shows where obesity is coming from

The data will also look into the links between the interviewees’ socioeconomic status, physical exercise and food they consume.

At the end of the survey, participants will be given a personalised nutrient profile that will help them better manage their food consumption.

“This study will help us develop national dietary guidelines and base our information campaigns on what and how much food the Maltese actually eat, including the exact consumption of salt, sugar, fat and protein,” Health Promotion Director Charmaine Gauci said at the launch.

The resulting data will be compared with international figures.

Malta has teamed up with six other countries, by joining the European Globo Diet Consortium, to compare data and help ensure sustainable and healthy food across Europe.

Addressing the media at the launch of the project, Dr Fearne said four of every five deaths in Malta were caused by non-communicable diseases.

These conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, respiratory illnesses and diabetes, were related to the quality and quantity of consumed food.

Obesity rates in Malta were on the increase, and Malta had to prevent the ensuing diseases, rather than just stop them, Dr Fearne insisted.