Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/478858
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 15 MARCH 2015 News 13 TIM DIACONO A Bill aimed at tackling obesity is proof that the Nationalist Party can make a difference in people's lives despite being in Opposition, PN leader Simon Busuttil said. "For the first time in Maltese histo- ry, Parliament is discussing a full law that was completely proposed by the Opposition," Busuttil told a national obesity conference. "Politicians tend to be expert at designing slogans but fail at putting their words into prac- tice. We want to disprove that and make a difference in people's lives." The Bill proposes to render all school sports-related activities ob- ligatory to all students, to offer child health courses to mothers-to-be and to establish a list of food items that will able to be sold at school can- teens, day centres and old people's homes. In his speech, Busuttil cited how the Opposition set up a working group of 11 MPs to come up with a strategy against diabetes, and how they have proposed a motion that will allow patients to be treated in private hospitals at the state's cost if public health waiting lists are too long. Busuttil warned that people living close to poverty are more likely to suffer from obesity. "Unhealthy food is cheaper than healthy food, and that is a problem that politicians must address," Bu- suttil said. He argued that a true solution to Malta's obesity problem requires a mentality and culture change. "We still tend to associate over- eating with health," Busuttil said. lokk, Muscat said the government was giving local councils more in- centives and has increased their funding thanks to a decision to hold elections every five years. A final decision to hold this year's elections was only taken a few months ago. It was later decided that an abrogative referendum on spring hunting would be held on the same day. Muscat said Labour chose Mar- saxlokk as a venue for the launch of candidates as "a symbolic loca- tion" to mark the government's commitment in providing cleaner energy following the closure of the Marsa power station and the planned removal of the Delima- ra power station chimney and a switch to gas. The Labour leader said he want- ed Labour-elected councillors to think independently of the govern- ment, work for the residents and their community and confront the government whenever they felt that their community was suffer- ing. The campaign has been domi- nated by what the central govern- ment did over the past two years. In reply to questions, Muscat said that at the end of the day, the com- munity was the one to feel first hand the work carried out by their local council, while the council should be the residents' advocate. He said that many local councils, irrespective of the party in govern- ment, sincerely worked to defend the interests of their residents. "But I am here to talk about the contributions of the local coun- cils and also to remind people of the work we did over the past two years. I think it is legitimate to do so," Muscat said. 'Obesity law proof of a pro-active Opposition' – Busuttil CONCEPTION in Malta is most likely to occur in the winter months between January and February an analysis of statistics included in the National Statistics Office's demo- graphic review of statistics covering the period 2005-2012. This is because November had the most births in 2007, 2009 and 2010 while October had most births in 2006 and 2012. September had most births in 2011. The only exception to the rule occurred in 2008 when a record number of births took place in March – the largest number of monthly births in the period be- tween 2006 and 2012. This suggests an abnormal spike of conceptions in June 2007. March also registered the second highest number of births in 2012. October had the fewest deaths in 2006, 2008 and 2012 while Septem- ber had the fewest deaths in 2007 and 2011. With regard to death, the review also includes statistics for the entire period between 2000-2012. A previous study covering the period between 1950 and 1996 in- dicated that in the 1950s births used to peak towards the beginning and the end of the year. But sub- sequently births shifted to the end of summer. The co-authored study by Charles Savona Ventura, Victor Grech, Hugo Agius Muscat and Li- na Janulova attributed the change to family planning and contraception. The paper showed that social not necessarily biological factors drive seasonal variations in births. "The issue to consider is when conception occurs; i.e. higher con- ception rates in January-February in 2006-2012, with the exception of 2008 which suggests a higher con- ception rate in June 2007," Charles Savona Ventura told MaltaToday when contacted. Between 2000 and 2005 the least number of deaths occurred either in October (2003) September (2001, 2003 and 2004) and November (2000 and 2005). This suggests that Malta's relative- ly warm autumns see most births and the least number of deaths Research shows that peak fertility times vary from one latitude and cli- mate to another. Births tend to peak in early Spring in Japan, in Spring in northern Eu- rope and in Autumn in the USA. Global studies suggest that geo- graphical discrepancies reflect when people in those places are ex- posed to a mix of daylight and tem- perature that most closely approxi- mates ideal conditions for human conception. Other studies attribute the spike of births in summer or au- tumn to people spending more time at home in the autumn and summer months. The same statistics also show that people in Malta are likely to die in the colder winter months. Dr Charles Savona Ventura attributes this spike in deaths in Winter to the fact that to the increase in respira- tory infections in Winter. January has the highest number of deaths in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007. February had the high- est number of deaths in 2001, 2005, 2009 and 2012. March had the high- est number of deaths in 2008, 2010 and 2011. December had the high- est number of deaths in 2003. In the last six years the least number of births occurred in April (2010 and 2011), March (2007), May (2008 and 2009) and February (2006). This suggests that fewer ba- bies are likely to be conceived in late spring and early summer. This suggests that with the notable exception of June 2007 which con- tributed to record births in March 2009, conceptions in late spring and summer are less common than those in Winter. The comparative statistics also show that June had the highest number of weddings in every year between 2006 and 2012 except 2003 when most weddings were cel- ebrated in May. The least number of weddings is celebrated in January, February and November. This means that generally the higher number of marriages in June does not contribute to a spike in the number of conceptions in that month which would result in more births in March. Circle of life: Most Maltese are conceived in winter, are born in autumn, marry in June and die in winter, JAMES DEBONO reports NSO report: autumn sees most births and fewest deaths Simon Busuttil argued that a true solution to Malta's obesity problem requires a mentality and culture change Simon Busuttil: "Unhealthy food is cheaper than healthy food, and that is a problem we must address"