Survey to analyse Maltese eating habits launched

Parliamentary secretary for health Chris Fearne launched the national food consumption survey today, a project meant to document the eating habits of 1,000 Maltese citizens over the age of seven.

"Malta clearly has a number of medical conditions stemming from food, and this survey aims to look at both the quality and quantity of foods eaten. We will then base a number of decisions and campaigns around healthy eating on the results," Fearne said.

He explained that over a half of the elderly population suffers from high blood pressure, which may be a result of unsuitable dietary practices. Diabetes, another common condition, affects around 45,000 individuals locally.

"These trends are obviously on the rise and the results of the survey will hopefully help us to reduce and prevent certain illnesses," he said.

"This is the first time research is being carried out by a Maltese entity, as we normally base our decisions on surveys carried out by WHO or other international research."

Fearne explained that the survey would serve as a basis for educational campaigns and for the creation of a preventive health system.

Disease prevention director Charmaine Gauci said that the survey would focus on the different food groups eaten as well as activity levels and socio-economic backgrounds of interviewees.

"The weight and height of the interviewees would also be measured, to analyse the correlation of all these factors in a person's diet."

Gauci explained that the pilot project, which would start next week, would consist of letters being sent to interviewees to establish contact.

"The full study will then take place 6 to 8 weeks later and it will look at 300 respondents and the survey would take place twice to eliminate errors."