2. Maltese Survey Health & Food

3. Q.9 Would you say what you normally eat is good for your health? ANALYSIS OF RESULTS  We have the highest percentage (44%) of respondents who said ‘Yes, very good’.  When comparing this result to the EU25 value (21%), our result is more than twice the average value.  This result does not match with other results.

4. Q.9 Would you say what you normally eat is good for your health? OUR OPINION  Does this mean that there are no health related problems in Malta?  Respondents THINK that what they normally eat is good for their health.  Previous research was carried in Malta which shows that Malta ranks amongst the countries which have the highest number of males and females who are overweight.

5. Obesity and Overweight Research National Statistics Office, Malta, 2004

6. Q.13 Do you find it easy to eat a healthy diet? ANALYSIS OF RESULTS  Maltese survey shows that 77% find it easy to eat a healthy diet.  This is the second highest value in Europe.  EU25 is set at 66%

7. Q.13 Do you find it easy to eat a healthy diet? OUR OPINION  Malta is once again the exception.  If this was the case, we should have less overweight and obesity related problems.  In Malta we are surrounded by shops which sell traditional Maltese food. Traditional Maltese food normally consists of high sugars and fats.

8. Q.14 Why is it not easy to eat a healthy diet? ANALYSIS OF RESULTS  Time was the most common reason at European level for the difficulty of eating a healthy diet.  Only 17% of the Maltese agreed to such issue  The majority of Maltese, 56%, the highest from all respondents, argued that eating a healthy diet is bland and unapetising.  With regards to information about healthy eating and diets, research shows that Maltese think that they are well informed.

9. Q.14 Why is it not easy to eat a healthy diet? OUR OPINION  Maltese enjoy eating tasty, delicious meals  Diets are not tasty as normal meals  Schools from a very young age promote healthy nutrition, like: in all government primary schools, everyday all children are provided with fresh milk  Such education influences the home nutrition

10. Q.4 Over the last 12 months, have you been on a diet or not? ANALYSIS OF RESULTS  Eurobarometer shows that 34% of Maltese have been on a diet for the last 12 months  We are the highest amongst the countries participating in the research conducted.

11. Q.4 Over the last 12 months, have you been on a diet or not? OUR OPINION  It could be that there is an awareness of the current situation with regards to obesity and overweight  However, the diets chosen could not have been quite effective  The Maltese might not be strong enough to stick to their planned diet

12. Q.10 Have you changed what you drink or eat in the last year ANALYSIS OF RESULTS  To confirm the results shown previously in Q.4, research shows that 37% of Maltese have changed what they drink or eat in the last year. This was done by starting a diet

13. Q.10 Have you changed what you drink or eat in the last year OUR OPINION  We can conclude that the Maltese are becoming more aware of their diet, and as a result, they are changing what they normally used to eat.

14. Q.11 What kind of changes did you make? ANALYSIS OF RESULTS  More than 50% of the Maltese respondents said that they: Drank more water Ate less fatty food Ate more fruits and vegetables  Less than 25% of the Maltese respondents said that they: Ate less sugar Consumed fewer calories Consumed less salt Consumed less meat Drank less alcohol

15. Q.11 What kind of changes did you make? OUR OPINION  For a balanced diet, each factor should be given equal importance  Proof of this are various health conditions of which we have high numbers when compared to other countries. Ex: diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure  10% of the Maltese population has diabetes as compared to 2% and 3% of European neighbors Diabetes In Malta: Current Findings & Future Trends, 2005

16. Q24.1 From what I see in Malta, there seems to be more overweight children these days then there were 5 years ago ANALYSIS OF RESULTS  This question shows that 48% agree that there are more overweight children than 5 years ago.

17. Q24.1 From what I see in Malta, there seems to be more overweight children these days then there were 5 years ago OUR OPINION  Such results are not alarming when compared with the EU25 results, but cannot be ignored  This contradicts the results from Q.9 in which the majority totally agreed, i.e. Would you say what you normally eat is good for your health?  If this was so, there should be less overweight children then there were 5 years ago

18. Q.25 Which one of the following do you think most influences what children eat? ANALYSIS OF RESULTS  Despite we give more importance to parents or guardians, when compared to the European average, we have a relatively low percentage.  A large percentage (26%) agree that the advertising and promotion of food influence what children eat.

19. Q.25 Which one of the following do you think most influences what children eat? OUR OPINION  We do not agree with such results because in Malta, the parents are not conscious that their children eat their diet. This is particularly caused by the strong familiar bond between parents/guardians and children in our country.

20. Q.27 To what extent do you think food advertising and promotion influence what children choose to eat? ANALYSIS OF RESULTS  77% say that the advertising and promotion influence what children choose to eat with the majority agreeing to a large extent.  The most effective system to improve children’s diet according to the Maltese is to provide more education for children at school.  The EU25 results place ‘more information for parents’ in the first place and ‘more education for children’ in the second place.

21. Q.27 To what extent do you think food advertising and promotion influence what children choose to eat? OUR OPINION  It is easy that in our society, being a small one, to be influenced by advertisement and promotion.  Also, we are easily influenced by each other.

22. Q.28a Which one of the following measures do you think would be most effective in reducing the prevalence of childhood obesity? ANALYSIS OF RESULTS Maltese classified the following measures in the given order. 1.More physical activity in schools 2.More education on healthy eating and exercise 3.Health promotion campaigns to encourage children to eat healthier food and take more exercise 4.Restrictions on the advertising and the promotion of high sugar, salt and fat foods aimed at children.

23. Q.28a Which one of the following measures do you think would be most effective in reducing the prevalence of childhood obesity? OUR OPINION  Awareness for healthy food should start at home. People responsible for the upbringing of the children should have a clear idea of what a balanced diet constitutes of and should also promote exercise.  Some of the Maltese children are raised by their grandparents, who think that by giving their grand- children a lot of food, they will grow healthier. This is an old mentality amongst older people.

24. Q.24.2 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? - From what I see in my country, there seem to be more overweight adults these days than there were five years ago ANALYSIS OF RESULTS  The EU25 value is 75%  84% of Maltese respondents agree that there seem to be more overweight adults

25. Q.24.2 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? - From what I see in my country, there seem to be more overweight adults these days than there were five years ago OUR OPINION  The Maltese are aware that the issue of overweight is increasing amongst adults  But they may not realize that it can be controlled by what you eat.

26. Q.24.3 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement? - Being significantly overweight, or obese is bad for your health. ANALYSIS OF RESULTS  There is an agreement amongst the citizens of the European Union.  84% of Maltese respondents totally agree with such statement, whilst the other 16% agreed.

27. Q.24.3 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement? - Being significantly overweight, or obese is bad for your health. OUR OPINION  Maltese know that obesity is bad for their health, but we think that they don’t realise that overweight problems can lead to obesity.  It is interesting to note that no one in the sample disagreed with such statement.

28. Q24.4 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? - The government should encourage people to eat a healthy diet and take plenty of exercise so that people stay at a healthy weight. ANALYSIS OF RESULTS  74% of Maltese respondents agree with such statement.  The 2 nd highest amount for European Union citizens

29. Q24.4 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? - The government should encourage people to eat a healthy diet and take plenty of exercise so that people stay at a healthy weight. OUR OPINION  The government should plan campaigns whose main theme is healthy nutrition and promotion of regular exercise.

30. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION John Caruana Cristina Maria Farrugia Stephen Magro