As reported by The Times of Malta earlier today, Malta has once again been announced the most obese nation in the European Union. 26% of Maltese adults are obese, outranking second-placed Latvia (21.3%) by a considerable margin.
The Times of Malta also reported that researchers from the University of Malta have found that seven in ten adults in Malta are overweight or obese. This is a concerning figure for our nation. Furthermore, according to a report by the Today Public Policy Institute, Malta has also emerged to be amongst the laziest and most car-dependent countries in the world.
Bearing in mind these statistics, the health of students emerges as a worrying concern that should be addressed. Below are a number of factors that may contribute to obestity at the University of Malta. The list is by no means exhaustive or backed by evidence, but simply serves as an opinion piece.
1. Limited choice of Healthy Meals Available on Campus
Students on campus have the opportunity of purchasing healthy meals from The Food Faculty and the Health Shop. However, these meals tend to be costly and limited in variety, especially when one rules out bread and wrap options. This may lead students to opt for cheaper meals available. Unhealthy alternatives are also much more varied in comparison to healthy options. One may consider the amount of fast food outlets in the vicinity of university campus, and unhealthy snacks available on campus.
2. Unreliability of Public Transport
Unfortunately, Malta is a car-dependent nation that means less travelling is done on foot to and from the bus stop. Although one may acknowledge the improvement public transport has seen, it is still far from reliable or appealing to students. We must admit that many students park their cars at a considerable distance from lecture halls, but reliable transport could mean a few extra minutes of walking each morning.
3. Lack of Bicycle Lanes
Although the weather makes cycling in Malta an easier task than doing so abroad, cyclists must deal with dangerous routes to university and back home. Improved bicycle lanes to the University of Malta could possibly result in an improvement of physical exercise by university students.
4. The Distance Between Sports Facilities and University Lecture Halls
Many students are discouraged from exercising because of the location of the sports facilities. In order to make use of the gym during free lessons, or before or after lectures, one must factor in enough travel time to and from the gym. And after a session at the gym, followed by a nice shower, walking back to university is far from ideal.
In spite of these hurdles faced by university students, one must acknowledge the work of students organisations that have contributed to a healthier lifestyle that may be enjoyed by students. These include namely Malta Medical Students Association (MMSA), Malta Health Students Association (MHSA) and Malta Pharmaceutical Students Association (MPSA) which have hosted multiple health campaigns, Malta University Sports Club (MUSC) which encourages sports on campus and has collaborated with the gym for cheaper student rates, and Studenti Demokristjani Maltin (SDM) that has launched the "Be a Winner’ campaign. Additionally, organisations such as the University Futsal Team – Mdina Knights FC, and the university rowing team and racing team provide students with the opportunity of enjoying sports at university.
