Addressing childhood obesity : are we doing enough?

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity is increasing worldwide, with Malta having one of the highest rates among European countries. Childhood obesity is likely to track into adulthood, and can have multiple physical and psychological health outcomes. It also causes a substantial economic burden on society. A cross-sectional study that aimed to identify barriers to maintaining a healthy weight among children attending primary school, and to assess the level of support for a range of policies aimed at addressing childhood obesity as expressed by their parents/guardians, was conducted in Malta. Methods: Data were collected using a paper-based questionnaire that was distributed to a stratified random sample of parents whose children attended free State schools, subsidised Church schools and fee-paying Independent primary schools in Malta and Gozo in 2018. Data were analysed using SPSSv25. Results: Responses from 1169 parents were received. There was a dissonance between the most common barriers identified, that were primarily related to the food environment, and the policies that received the most support. Providing more spaces for safe physical activity was the most supported policy (94% in favour). Participants were least supportive of taxation policies, a phenomenon also observed in other countries. The level of support for policies varied significantly by various demographic and socioeconomic factors. Conclusions: Recommendations were developed to inform future policies and strategies to address obesity. Policymakers need to take bold, possibly controversial decisions to mitigate against the barriers faced by the population in accessing healthy food and being physically active. Given the globalised nature of media advertising and the food system, a joint international effort is necessary to address this epidemic, such as stricter audio-visual media advertising regulations, food reformulation and mandatory standardised food label