Open Access#12012
Healthy weight for life strategy an intersectoral approach to tackling obesity in Malta
With 40 to 48% of children and 58% of adults being overweight and obese, excess weight in both children and adults in Malta has become a major concern. Obesity has considerable effects on mortality and morbidity. The excess direct cost on the Maltese health service associated with overweight and obese individuals as compared with persons of normal weight is estimated to be nearly 20 million Euro per year (in 2008), accounting for 5.7% of total health expenditure. ; peer-reviewed