Adolescents are smoking and drinking significantly less than four years ago, according to preliminary results of a survey on health behaviour in schoolchildren.

Strategies and action plans ... have given clear direction and targets over the last four years

The pattern of children who say they drink alcohol at least once a week increases constantly with age and is higher in boys than girls, but it has dropped by 10 per cent in the years since 2006.

The percentage of 15-year-olds in this category has gone down from 51 to 40.6 among boys and from 39 to 29.5 among girls.

Smoking among 15-year-olds has also decreased “dramatically” – by 10 per cent in boys and 15 per cent in girls – even though the latter smoke more.

Although adult women traditionally smoke less than men, the trend among adolescents has been changing, and campaigns are therefore targeting the girls, who may think smoking leads to eating less.

The percentage of smokers increases drastically in female adolescents aged 11, 13 and 15 – the three cohorts the study targets – showing them to catch up quickly with the vice.

In 2006 the figures stood at 19 per cent of 15-year-old boys and 24 per cent of the girls, down to 8.6 and nine respectively in 2010 – the year the last cross-national survey was carried out in collaboration with the World Health Organisation.

Its highlights were launched by the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Directorate yesterday, ahead of the full report and an analysis of the findings in June, which will also be drawing comparisons with 42 countries.

The study on Health Behaviour in School-aged Children is carried out every four years and Malta has participated in three of the studies.

The 2010 survey targeted 1,400 early adolescents from Church, state and independent schools.

Rates of obesity ‘well within target’

It is the main tool to gain insight into their health and wellbeing, as well as the social context.

Among the 15-year-olds, 17 per cent of boys and 13 per cent of girls said they had had sexual intercourse.

But the percentages cannot be compared because it was the first time Church school students took part in that particular questionnaire.

The study also reveals a seemingly contradictory conclusion that while children are still growing fatter,they are also reporting that they lead healthier lifestyles.

For instance, improvements have been registered in the consumption of breakfast and fruit, although the volume of soft drinks has remained the same. But overall, obesity is on the rise, despite the fact that exercise has also increased over 2006.

The results are promising, according to Charmaine Gauci, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention director, who said these behaviours could have an impact on weight over the years.

Dr Gauci pointed out that the increase in obesity was steeper between 2002 and 2006 than between 2006 and 2010, the years when the three HBSC studies were carried out in Malta. This is in accordance with the target of the Healthy Weight for Life Strategy, which is to arrest and not necessarily reduce the rates.

“That is basically what we are after – the slowing down of the rates, until they eventually plateau,” she said.

Obesity and overweight levels are highest among 11-year-old boys, at 41.3 per cent, while the trend shows weight loss in both sexes as they grow.

As a result the survey provides a means to zero in on what age group to target, even in terms of fruit and soft-drink consumption.

About 50 per cent of children across all the ages have breakfast every school day, with the highest percentage among the youngest cohort, while the average daily consumption of fruit is around 40 per cent.

Boys outdo girls in physical activity, beating them across the ages. But despite the increased percentage of students participating in 60 minutes of daily exercise – the recommended WHO level – the time they dedicate decreases as they grow.

Superintendent of Public Health Ray Busuttil expressed his pleasure at the survey’s overall results, saying the reasons for the improvements also needed to be understood so they could be strengthened.

He said: “There is no doubt, however, that one of the main factors has been the development of comprehensive strategies and action plans that have given clear direction and targets over the last four years.”