Current estimates show that over a quarter million people on the Maltese islands suffer from having excess weight. As a result, work is underway to address this challenge by the Ministry of Health, the government said..

Addressing an activity, Health and Active Ageing Minister, Jo Etienne Abela, and the Active Ageing Parliamentary Secretary, Malcolm Paul Agius Galea, mentioned a number of initiatives that the country is taking to combat obesity rates. It was said that alongside these initiatives, the Ministry also wants to provide the necessary help to aid overweight citizens to live a healthier life.

The government is working to apply these services on an individual basis, depending on the specific needs of each person. Work is also underway to launch a national strategy to address this growing challenge on a national scale, they said.

Minister Abela described how obesity affects all types of people, from children to adults. He also emphasized the importance of prevention as a means to combat growing obesity rates.

The Minister described how obesity and diabetes go “hand-in-hand” and that his Ministry is focusing its work by prioritising the prevention of reaching this overweight status. He then added that nowadays, there exist several medicines and operations that can be used to address these conditions.

“We are committed to continue to invest more in order to increase awareness and take measures to continue to prevent this condition,” he said.

Parliamentary Secretary Agius Galea discussed how obesity in the elderly typically affects other conditions that may affect their health.

“I believe it is very important to invest and provide education on food – both to the elderly and in the younger generation,” he said, “Through small changes, one can continue to enjoy the same type of foods, but live a healthier life.”

The Superintendent of Health, Prof. Charmaine Gauci, emphasized that obesity is a global health challenge that affects millions of people worldwide. She also mentioned that Malta has high figures relating to obesity and being overweight, and thus, also reiterated the importance of prevention in addressing this challenge.