Every so often, a member of parliament steps up to the plate and presents a private members bill that makes sense and is aimed at improving the life of Maltese citizens.

All too often, we think that Maltese politics is stuck in a rut of bi-partisan sniping, but it is not always the case. Last week, for example, PN MP Robert Cutajar put forward such a bill, entitled: ‘A Healthy Lifestyle and a Reduction of Obesity’.

This bill is much needed. We have heard all too often that we are one of the fattest people in Europe, and what is worse is that our children are also the same – if not even fatter on the scales than we are. One of the best ideas put forward in the bill is that for physical education classes to be included in the curriculum of every student at every level of compulsory education and preferably from pre-school. Every activity related to sport at every licensed school would become compulsory, while all sporting facilities at the school or in its surroundings have to be available for physical education purposes by all students.

At present, some schools do practice this, but many don’t and some have abysmally low slots and times allocated to sport. A healthy body equals a healthy mind and therefore, if we want to stop the chronic problem of obesity that is plaguing our youngsters. It is families that feed them, and while we need more awareness about healthy eating and lifestyle choices – which is also in the bill – we must tackle the problem at source.

Unless we break this habit quick, we could see a situation where obesity and people suffering from chronic health problems would consume our national health service. The UK, which has obesity rates that are similar to ours, estimates that obesity could become the leading killer, overtaking smoking, by the year 2020. In fact, figures show that our country is spending around €19 million on medical conditions caused by obesity, amongst which I have mentioned Type-2 diabetes, stroke and heart attacks.

If the bill becomes law, it would empower the minister to establish a list of food and drink that can be sold at schools as well as within the school’s surrounding areas, the distances and time for which will be determined by the consulting council. The provision of drinking-quality water at every school is also stressed.

All in all, one finds it hard to spot anything that should not be passed into law – after all, it is all about our health. One would now hope that parliament will discuss the matter fruitfully in parliament and that the government would back Mr Cutajar’s initiative and go one further, by incorporating subsequent amendments which would improve the draft even further.

Obesity is a very real problem and we need to act on it now. Failure to do so will see us fall into ruin – both in terms of our health as well as economically and financially.