A recent editorial in the Times of Malta highlighted the fact that Malta ranks in first place as the most obese nation among all EU states. At a national level, various initiatives have already been introduced to tackle this issue, which have focused on educating the public about healthy eating, the avoidance of sugary soft drinks and the encouragement of exercise.

However, herein lies the main problem. In my opinion, most of Malta’s schools are unable to provide adequate time for exercise due to the restrictions of the school timetables.

At all schools, there are two breaks: the first is a short one and the second break is usually longer. At most independent schools, the first break is 20 minutes long and the second 40 minutes. Some boys’ Church schools have a full hour as the main break.

Many government schools have even less time allocated for breaks. While accepting that there are also formal physical education lessons, the fact remains that, overall, there is not enough time or importance being given to daily exercise at school where calories can be consumed.

It is time to consider having a Student Charter that ensures that every child has enough time to exercise

The school timetable has changed dramatically over the years. In my school days, I used to have a main break of one hour and 45 minutes. This was more than enough time to engage in many different sports and training opportunities.

A main break of 40 minutes or less is hardly enough time to play a game of football or basketball where the ‘actual’ playing time would be about 30 minutes.

In order to target the children most in need of more exercise opportunities, one needs to increase the available time for exercise during daytime school hours. Homework, computers, TV viewing, etc. already take up much of the available time after school. While some children attend sports nurseries after school, these facilities are geared towards the better athletes who are usually not in the ‘obese’ category. If the obesity issue is to be tackled seriously, then there needs to be a concerted effort to increase the time available in the main break to at least one full hour. This might simply mean starting school 10 minutes earlier and finishing 10 minutes later. This will practically double the available time for physical exercise and without disrupting the daily timetable too much.

Where sports facilities in some schools are limited, it might be possible to alter the timetable so that the break times are not the same for all the grades. If break times were staggered, then the limited facilities could be made available to other grades at different times.

I think it is time to consider having a Student Charter that ensures that every child has enough time to exercise. This will, hopefully, encourage children to better enjoy sports. Hopefully, this love of sports will continue into adulthood and, as future parents, they will encourage their children to do likewise.

In time, this might translate into a healthier nation. I am sure that where there is a will, there is a way.

Karl German is a consultant urologist in the Surgery Division at Mater Dei Hospital.

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