Obesity
ENGLISH / MALTESE
Obesity in Malta
Malta has the highest rate of male obesity (68%) and the third highest rate of female obesity (49.1%) in Europe
“35% of Maltese adolescents aged 13 years old are overweight or obese; this rate is 10% higher than all other European countries.”
How do I know if I am obese?
There are 2 common ways to assess whether you are obese or overweight, body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
To measure:
Measure your height
Measure your weight
Use a BMI calculator online to work out your BMI
BMI Categories:
A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is healthy
25-29.9 is overweight
Above 30 is obese
The BMI does not consider muscle mass; if you are a muscular person then it might place you in an overweight/obese category.
Waist circumference
To measure:
Stand up and place the tape measure around your waist, just above your hip bones
Make sure the tape is horizontal around the waist
Make sure the tape is close with the skin but not compressing it
Measure your waist just after you breathe out
The recommended waist measurements are:
Less than 94 cm (37 inches) for men
Less than 80 cm (31.5 inches) for women
If you have more fat around the waist and abdomen than at the hips, thighs, and bottom, you are at a higher risk for complications as a result of more fat surrounding your organs. This refers to the ‘apple’ shaped body.
What can cause obesity or weight gain?
The food and drink that we consume have a form of stored energy, typically measured in calories (kcal). If your calorie intake exceeds the recommended amount, it will invariably result in weight gain if you do not undertake regular physical activity.
Generally, the recommended calorie intake is around 2,000 kcal per day for women and 2,500 kcal per day for men.
There are also a few medications or medical conditions which may cause weight gain.
BMI calculation is one of the ways through which you can check whether you are obese or overweight.
How does being obese increase my risk of having a heart attack?
Weight gain leads to increased build-up of fatty material in your arteries, which are the blood vessels which carry blood to your organs. This is known as atherosclerosis.
This fatty material blocks these vessels. When these arteries to your heart block completely, it may lead to a heart attack.
If this build-up of fatty material happens to the arteries supplying blood to the brain it can lead to stroke or dementia.
Fat also increases your cholesterol, your blood pressure and your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, all these result in an increased risk of atherosclerosis and heart attacks.
How do I manage my weight and avoid obesity?
Eat a healthy, balanced diet
Exercise frequently
Regulate portion sizes
Keep healthy snacks nearby just in case you get hungry in between meals
Read food labels and count calories
Find a partner to help you through the journey
If you are a vegetarian or vegan, you may need to speak to a nutritionist to make sure that your diet is balanced.
If you have any chronic condition, such as diabetes, speak to your family doctor and dietician so that they may recommend a personalised diet plan.
What local services are available to help me?
A Weight Management Programme is available which is focused on the prevention of weight regain and management of overweight and obese individuals. All individuals over 18 years of age, who have a body mass index (BMI) of more than 25kg/m2 can be referred.
If you are concerned regarding your weight, visit your family doctor, lifestyle clinic nurse or dietician in local Health Clinics and Mater Dei Hospital. They can offer advice or refer you to the management programme by sending an email on nutritionist.phc@gov.mt.
If you want more information regarding the weight management programme, you can call 25576183 or visit the website https://deputyprimeminister.gov.mt/en/phc/Pages/Services/Nutritionist/Weight-Management-Programme.aspx.
Take-Home Messages
Obesity rates are high in Malta.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle and keep active to avoid becoming obese.
Obesity can lead to a heart attack and other complications.
Ask your family doctor for advice and seek assistance from local services.
HELP AND SUPPORT
If you have any questions regarding our article feel free to contact us on info@maltaheartfoundation.org or our Facebook page (LINK).
This article was authored by Dr. Adam Al Gededi and edited by Dr. Neil Grech, in collaboration with the Malta Heart Foundation and Maltese Cardiac Society.