Obesity in Malta for the year 2016 cost some €36 million. More than a quarter of the Maltese population over 15 years of age is obese.
A report which was tabled in Parliament on Monday, titled ‘Weighing the Costs of Obesity in Malta’ looks into an issue which afflicts thousands of Maltese and European citizens alike.
The report shows how the prevalence of obesity has increased from 23% in 2002 to 25% in 2015. BMI (Body Mass Index) measurements reveal how 34% of the Maltese population between 18 and 70 years, reported as being obese in the year 2016.
These worrying results show that the country is far from reaching the 2020 target rate of obesity at 18%. Besides bearing a serious health issue, obesity also costs a staggering €36.3 million. This money is used through direct costs such as the consumption of pharmaceuticals and primary health care and other indirect costs. The costs are estimated to go up by another €20 million. Dissecting these costs, obesity costs some €97 per capita.
The report shows how the costs of obesity are absorbing 8.1% of the annual public expenditure for health, or 5.6% of the national healthcare expenditure.
Highest rates of obesity were registered among the older age groups, especially among individuals aged 55 to 64. The problem is also very present in the younger generation. As it was already revealed in previous obesity reports in local schools, a high percentage of Maltese students are obese. This most recent report shows that 32% and 38% of the Maltese 11-year-olds are obese or overweight.
When it comes to gender, females registered a lower percentage than males in pre-obese category. However, both genders have marked an increase in the percentage of obesity. 27% of the local males in 2015 were obese, an increase from the 25% registered in 2002. The proportion of females who are obese also increased to 23.5% from the 21.3% registered in 2002.
These figures are not promising at all, especially if Malta wants to reach the targets established for the year 2020. Back in 2010, the Maltese government had joined a global action plan by the World Health Organisation. Among the plan was the setting up of a target percentage of 18% by 2020.
These latest results show that Malta’s position has worsened over the years. With the percentage of obese population increasing from 22% in 2008 to 25% in 2015, the 18% target by 2020 seems to be getting even further away.