Why are people prone to obesity in Malta? The number one culprit is the ‘waste-not mentality’ brought on by our ancestors and is still prevalent today, which could be the reason why certain people become overweight.

The habit of eating what’s left in the plate although one is already full makes you pile on extra pounds, day in day out. Refrigerating what’s left or taking home the excess food when in a restaurant is the best idea for those who cannot stand wasting food.

Besides cutting down on carbs and drinking more water, having smaller portions of food is a quick way of losing weight and that’s by downsizing plates at home.

Laziness is the other contributor to obesity. The fact that shops, relatives etc. are close makes us walk less. By investing more time in exercise we could start looking thinner.

May the trend continue changing, as more grown-ups are taking advantage of gyms, cycling and jogging these days. However, if we want to have a less obese population, adults should eat less and exercise more.

Encouraging children to watch their weight from an early age will benefit them for the rest of their lives, both in terms of health and appearance.