Malta, like many western countries, faces a serious obesity crisis, especially among children. A well thought-out strategy is needed to reverse the worrying obesity trend that has evolved in the last few decades.

One tactic that is too often ignored in the fight against obesity is the importance of promoting better physical education in schools. Writing in this newspaper some time ago, Karl German, a consultant urologist, remarked that “overall, there is not enough time or importance being given to daily exercise at school where calories can be consumed”. His concerns are shared by those who have at heart the long-term benefits of instilling in children the love for physical activity to promote overall health of both the mind and the body.

The Malta Union of Teachers takes a defensive stance when confronted with the possibility of extending school breaks. Its president argues that there is no scientific proof that longer school breaks affect obesity. He also insists that formal school hours are not negotiable.

Schools are under cost constraints and immense pressure to improve students’ academic achievement. They react to these pressures by trimming the ‘fat’, which may be anything that does not advance children in academic standards. Some parents are in agreement with this attitude and often pile up their own pressures by insisting that their children concentrate almost exclusively on improving their academic qualifications.

But cutting school breaks to allocate more time to academic teaching is counterproductive. US health guidelines recommend physical activity calls for children to accumulate 60 minutes of moderate vigorous physical activity daily.

Physical education is about raising children’s heart rates, teaching them about nutrition and the benefits of exercise as well as letting them discover the delights of outdoor activities.

Some harbour the illusion that time dedicated to physical exercise is wasted. The belief that time for physical education compromises academic achievement is not supported by research. Many educators believe regular physical activity can promote better classroom learning by keeping children more on task and improve concentration.

Parents need to put pressure on schools to ensure that their children are receiving sufficient physical education. Increasing demands on parents working outside the home has resulted in growing number of children with less time to play under adult supervision in their towns and villages. Instead, they spend more time behind locked doors watching TV, playing video games or using their computers or smart phones.

Teachers must be compensated adequately if they are expected to spend more time at their place of work.

It is a sad reality that more children are being diagnosed with stress than ever before. Physical activities reduce the tension that often comes with having to achieve academically to satisfy parents’ and school administrators’ ambitions.

Society has become too complex. But there is an urgent need for every child to feel the sun and wind on his/her cheek and engage in physical activities. School administrators must engage with parents and teachers to embed physical education in the curriculum in a way that benefits all children.

Let us give children longer breaks to discover the joy of healthy exercise.