40% of all boys of secondary school age are obese, according to a new study.
Children from all State, Church and independent schools - a total of 41,747 boys and girls - had their body mass index measured during PE lessons in a world-first study, according to consultant paediatrician Victor Grech.
According to the results, 10,852 children are obese, 5,889 of them in primary schools and the rest at secondary level. The data also shows that 15 per cent of all children are overweight, though in the case of girls in secondary schools the rate is even higher, at 16.9 per cent.
The study is part of an the recently-launched anti-obesity campaign called Healthy Weight for Life.
Prof. Grech pointed out that the issue could be addressed more proactively by measuring every single child. He is heading a task force made up of doctors who will be making clinical recommendations on how to deal with the problem based on the available data.
Having over 40 per cent of children either overweight or obese is extremely worrying
“We have been harping on this for years. Having over 40 per cent of children either overweight or obese is extremely worrying and the only way to detect the problem is to look at every child and identify exactly the problem areas,” Prof. Grech told this newspaper when contacted about the findings
The study confirmed what experts have been saying for years, he added, that Malta's children had very serious weight problems. Only last month, a report issued by the World Health Organisation ranked children in Malta as being the most obese and overweight in more than 40 countries.
Prof. Grech noted that, while the results were significant in that they gave a clear picture of the situation at hand, which would make it easier to tackle the problem, the study’s methodology was also significant.
“Having children measured during their PE lessons is an easy way to collect data. The teachers are willing as they too are concerned about the high rates.
“This sort of study could easily be replicated every year, which would provide regular data which is up to date,” he said, adding that the research was also easily scalable and could be implemented anywhere in the world.
The anti-obesity campaign is part of a strategy launched in 2012 and will run until 2020. The Health Ministry has set up an inter-ministerial committee to work on a holistic approach to address the issue.