Maltese Survey

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Health Food

• Maltese Survey

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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.

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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.

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Obesity and Overweight Research
National Statistics Office, Malta, 2004
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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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 childrens
  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.

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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.

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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.
• More physical activity in schools
• More education on healthy eating and exercise
• Health promotion campaigns to encourage children
  to eat healthier food and take more exercise
• Restrictions on the advertising and the promotion
  of high sugar, salt and fat foods aimed at
  children.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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 dont realise that
  overweight problems can lead to obesity.
• It is interesting to note that no one in the
  sample disagreed with such statement.

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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 2nd highest amount for European Union
  citizens

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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.

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