With almost 40% of primary and 42% of secondary school children being overweight or obese, childhood obesity constitutes one of Malta’s foremost medical epidemics. Physical inactivity is another risk factor, and leads to various physical, psychological, social and economic implications.
A study assessing the general levels of physical activity in Maltese primary school children. Has been conducted by ex-Masters in Clinical Biomechanics student, Dr Amanda Fenech, who is a paedratrician by profession.
Titled ‘Evaluation of the levels of physical activity amongst Primary school children in Malta’, the study surveyed 129 school children from three primary state school, and measured their physical activity in terms of frequency and duration. It was recently published in the Malta Medical Journal, and was supervised by Prof. Cynthia Formosa and Dr Alfred Gatt from the Department of Podiatry.
It emerged that the children undergo physical activity less than once daily in a typical week; twice in their spare time during week days, and an average of 2-3 times during the weekend. According to this study, the low frequency in physical activity in Maltese children is potentially because of extreme academic pressure and preferential involvement in sedentary activities.
“Sedentary behaviour is further exacerbated by the urbanisation of Maltese villages with ever-decreasing safe areas for children to play in. Parks and play areas should be actively created in each village and they should be repeatedly tended and updated, in order to attract families and promote physical exercise during play", the study said.
The journal may be read in its entirety online.