On World Health Day, earlier this month, a report by WHO focused on physical inactivity as a major cause of type 2 diabetes and urged countries to launch incentives for regular physical activity.
The world health body recommended the adoption of urban planning and transport policies, which ensure that walking, cycling and other forms of non-motorised ‘active’ mobility are accessible and safe for all. This is backed up by the findings of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, which showed that commuting to work by any means other than a private car is beneficial in preventing overweight and diabetes. The greatest benefit was seen in those who commuted by bicycle. But even the incidental physical activity of walking associated with public transport was shown to have an important effect.
The researchers emphasised once again that walking and cycling were the easiest and most readily available ways for people to incorporate physical activity into their daily routine and that it was never too late to start.
Physical inactivity has long been recognised as a significant contributor to illness. Getting people to exercise is now regarded as the least expensive and most effective strategy for preventing much ill-health. In public health terms, it is now considered the best remedy in the prevention of obesity, diabetes, coronary heart disease and many others. Regular exercise has also been shown to stave off dementia in old age.
The results of a worldwide survey published in The Lancet indicated that Malta is the least physically active country in the world. It is no wonder it has the highest frequency of type 2 diabetes in the EU, with 10 per cent of the population suffering from it compared to two or three per cent of our European neighbours.
Unfortunately, Malta continues to allocate priority to private car transport with parking facilities provided across the country and road improvements solely directed at easing the motor vehicle traffic flow to the complete exclusion of healthy mobility options. This continues to divert people from being physically active in a way that is practical and fits in with their daily lives. There needs to be a balance.
The habit of being more physically active and indulging in less passive behaviour must start early to have a lasting impact. In addition to growing up exposed to harmful traffic pollution, Maltese children lack easy access to safe, affordable opportunities to indulge in healthy activities, such as walking and cycling, which are taken for granted in other countries.
But this is not the only drawback. The serious threat from invisible fine particles (particulates) emitted mostly by diesel engines – the most toxic of traffic emissions – has just been reconfirmed by the Royal College of Physicians. It cites new evidence that children born of mothers exposed to diesel exhaust during pregnancy are more likely to suffer from physical health problems and subtle brain dysfunction, with increased frequency of behavioural disorders.
Children are especially affected both by Malta’s pollution and degraded traffic-congested urban road environments. Because their special needs continue to be disregarded, Maltese children exercise little and spend too many hours watching television. Is it any wonder they have the highest childhood and adolescent obesity rates in the EU?
As long as we and our children remain inactive and exposed to traffic pollution, Malta’s future health, especially of children, remains at risk. Much needs to be done to reverse this.