From Mr C Micallef

A report in The Lancet suggests that the current widely held recommended level of an hour a day of moderate activity for children may not be sufficient to prevent future health problems such as blood pressure

and cholesterol. www.oxha.org/ alliance-alert/2006-q3-july2013sept/alert.2006-07-24.7522446246

Referring to the Health article, “Children need even more exercise” (TMIS, 30 July), it was recommended that school pupils should receive two hours of physical education and sport a day by 2010.

A letter by Mark Causon, “Obesity in Malta” that appeared in the same newspaper (11 June) said, “It is my opinion that the Health authorities and the Education authorities should introduce more physical activities in the school curriculum and to encourage more participation in sports.”

In the article,“Why children must play outdoors” (The Times, 6 March), the Commissioner for Children, Sonia Camilleri pointed out that schools have an important role in ensuring that children have more than a 30-minute break and the odd PE lesson.

A 2002 WHO health behaviour survey among school children placed Maltese 13-year olds first. Another much more recent Canadian study confirmed that the highest prevalence of overweight youths was found in Malta. Dr Ian Janssen, the leading researcher, emphasised the importance of focusing more on physical activity rather than food intake as the primary way to combat overweight and obesity.

The children of today are the workers of tomorrow, who have to remain physically fit for working until the age of 65 or the ripe old age of 70!

It also remains a sad fact that in Malta, children unfortunately have to attend private lessons from as young an age as year 3, indicating that probably they are not having sufficient lessons at school.

In view of all this, it would not be wise to dismantle a church to build another! Why sacrifice one or two lessons daily to boost up their physical activities? The solution to this serious problem of childhood obesity is simple. See how other schools operate abroad...

Carmelo Micallef

Fgura