The title of the report Maltese Among Most Obese In EU - But Score Well In Life Expectancy, Heart Disease Mortality And Suicide Rates (December 8) implies to readers that, in spite of our obesity epidemic, Malta has no associated health problem. This is liable to give rise to a false sense of security when it shouldn’t.

Put simply, many of today’s children, youngsters and adults who are obese can be expected to die younger in later adult life, chiefly from cardiovascular disorders and/or complications of diabetes. That Malta “scores well” now – at this very moment in time – is meaningless because this applies to today’s older people who are possibly fitter because they grew up in different circumstances. The consequences of the current increase in obesity (not to mention our heavy urban pollution and unhealthy lifestyle with little exercise) will only become apparent in years or decades to come as the present younger generations get older.

The reported current high life-expectancy rates, lower heart disease and cancer mortality rates, etc., in today’s older adult and aged population is the legacy of the unpolluted surroundings which older people in our population were privileged to grow up in.

We oldies lived when there were fewer cars, when the air was clean and we also walked a lot. The explosive increase in both obesity (and unfitness) is the early warning sign of today’s unhealthy lifestyle; this is the tip of the iceberg. The consequences of today’s obesity and unhealthy lifestyle (to which one might add pollution) will only begin to show in years or decades to come. The high prevalence of asthma and the excess of cases of breast cancer may be the beginning of this trend.

Now is the time for our government to take steps to create an environment which discourages dependence on the motor car and encourages a healthy lifestyle. But government attitudes are still stubbornly concentrated on building more roads for traffic to flow easily (while not providing for the needs of pedestrians, children and cyclists) and encroaching on recreational space to provide for more car parks and real estate development. Investment in health is ignored at our peril.