President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca today insisted that there is the need of more awareness about obesity and eating disorders, allowing the public to be better informed before taking lifestyle decisions.

During a visit to Dar Kenn Ghal Sahhtek, Mrs Coleiro Preca lauded former President George Abela for the initiative to open the residential home, funded by the Malta Community Chest Fund. She said that there is the need to ensure that the service is reaching its full potential and reaching the maximum number of people.

The President also took the time to meet with resident of the house, who spoke about their experiences and challenges they face.

Director Darleen Zerafa said many who suffer from eating disorders do so in silence and in secret. Such conditions are not always given the required importance, sometimes as a result of a lack of awareness. Ms Zerafa said that since the home opened 69 people were referred there for help related to eating disorders while 265 others were referred for treatment related to obesity.

The youngest patient was 11-years old, while the oldest was 65. 37% of eating disorder patients suffered from bulimia and 28% from Anorexia. 28% of patients were aged between 16 and 20 and 21% were between 10 and 15-years-old. Although the majority of patients were female, five men were also referred for treatment.