Seascape at Marsaxlokk

Welcome to Malta!

Malta is a beautiful country located in the Mediterranean. Consisting of three islands, Malta is a small country with a population of 350,000. The Maltese culture is reflective of the strong presence of the Catholic Church, with half the year spent celebrating local patron saints with festivals of confetti and candy. Malta's geography also plays an important role in the culture and lifestyle of its people. As typical of the Mediterranean region, the people of Malta are casual and relaxed and they take a lot of pride in their country.

Until recently, Malta's location kept it guarded from the influence of other cultures, but that is changing. New technology has begun to make the islands of Malta easier to access. This has led to increased trade and urbanization throughout the country. While this brings more tourism and other economic opportunities to Malta, it is also affecting the culture and lifestyle of the people in Malta.

Urbanization has led to a decrease in physical activity and an increase in the consumption of oil and sugar based foods in many parts of the world. This is expected to have a significant effect on the rise of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. The World Health Organization is calling obesity a global epidemic. The Mediterranean, particularly Malta, has seen a significant increase in number of overweight and obese citizens. With over 60% of its population either overweight or obese, Malta has one of the highest rates of obesity in the world and it is escalating. Children are not exluded from this epidemic. Malta has the highest rate of obesity in children at 7.9%. Along with the increased numbers of overweight and obese people throughout the world comes many diet related chronic diseases that must be faced with prevention and treatment.

This website will examine a weight loss campaign being intiated in Malta and the implications of the Maltese culture on this campaign.