Healthy living is still something of an afterthought in Maltese workplaces, five-time National Bodybuilding champion Ralph Decelis has said. 

"Studies clearly show that employees perform better when they are living a healthy life," the onetime bodybuilder noted. 

Mr Dechelis, who also serves as president of the Malta Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness, was speaking ahead of this weekend's bodybuilding National Championships & International Grand Prix, to be held at the Hilton on April 23 and 24. 

This weekend's championships have received the backing of real estate agency Engel & Völkers Sara Grech, which has taken the lead in promoting healthy living at the workplace.

A graphic illustration of the Mriehel fitness centre.

The agency is currently building a new fitness centre at the Regional Market Centre in Mriehel. Managing Director Benjamin Tabone Grech said "lack of fitness and misconceptions about our diet is a major problem in Malta, and therefore we are taking the lead”.

The new fitness centre should open in the summer and will be managed by Hannah Grech (IFBB Bikini Fitness Athlete). Apart from the daily running of the gym, she will pass on professional health and nutritional advice to E&V Sara Grech employees.