Well over half the Maltese population were overweight or obese, a Lifestyle Survey by the National Statistics Office has found.

The survey, for 2007, also found that half the nation was on a diet.

According to the study, the heaviest Maltese were aged between 35 and 44 and weighed an average 75.7 kilogrammes, the lightest between 18 and 24 carrying an average 66.7 kilogrammes

The average Maltese adult weighed 72.5 kilogrammes - varying from 65.9 kilogrammes (women) to 79.4 kilogrammes (men). 2.6 percent were underweight and 62.4 percent were overweight or obese.

Only 7.5 percent of overweight and 6.5 percent of obese Maltese went to a gym or fitness club at least once a week.

The report says that women were more likely to follow a diet than men, with 66.3 percent of men and 49.7 percent of women eating fried food at least once a week in the seven days preceeding the survey.

While 9.2 percent of the adult population ate fried food three to seven days a week, this proportion went up to 25.3 percent in the 18 to 24 age group.

According to the report, more than one of every four Maltese smoked, consuming an average of 15 cigarettes a day.

More than half the adult population consumed at least one unit of alcohol per week - 74.4 percent of those aged between 18 and 24 compared to 43.8 percent of those aged 65 and over. While the percentage of male drinkers reached 70.3 percent, the number of female drinkers amounted to 41.9 percent.

The survey found that 16.5 percent of women used prescribed tranquillisers, anti-depressants or sedatives in the 12 months before the survey, compared to 11.9 percent of men. 4.1 percent of men and 2.2 percent of women used these pharmaceuticals without prescription and 3.2 respondents admitted to illicit drug use.

The majority of Maltese adults - 80.3 percent, said they were satisfied with life. Most satisfied were married couples and those with a very good or good standard of living, those cohabiting the least.