Eating disorders in Malta Category: 11-14 years LEANNE GATT, 13 YEARS VERONIQUE MAGRO, 13 YEARS MIKELA MUSCAT GIGLIO, 13 YEARS NICOLE SAIA, 14 YEARS ST.FRANCIS SECONDARY SCHOOL SLIEMA LINK TEACHER: MS. VANESSA CACHIA
Abstract Research carried out by: Leanne Gatt, Veronique Magro, Mikela Muscat Giglio, Nicole Saia Title: Eating Disorders in Malta Aim: - To raise awareness about eating disorders in Malta, their causes and affects - To raise awareness about the prevention and the care of eating disorders in Malta This project focuses on three eating disorders in Malta, namely Bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa and binge eating disorder. This study attempts to determine the causes and effects of these eating disorders, the likeliest victims, and how and where in Malta, people can find help. It also helps to determine whether Maltese people are aware of how serious this problem is, and to determine what can be done from the point of view of prevention. This study is based on 100 questionnaires distributed to a representative sample of the local population. 1
Eating Disorders in Malta By: Leanne Gatt, Veronique Magro, Mikela Muscat Giglio, Nicole Saia What are eating disorders? Healthgrove.com puts it quite bluntly and describes eating disorders as a category of mental health disorders that affect a person s thoughts and behaviours regarding food and body image. A study by WHO goes a step further saying that it may lead to a range of behaviours aimed at reducing weight such as severe dieting, and self-induced vomiting amongst others. However, you will probably understand better if we use practical terms that we are used to hearing such as anorexia and bulimia, for example. In this report we have carried out research in order to gauge the perception that Maltese people have about eating disorders and to be able to determine their views about the subject for a better understanding of the issues surrounding eating disorders and in the hope of raising more awareness about them. Our research is based on 100 questionnaires which we distributed to a representative sample of the local population. 54% of our respondents try to eat healthy food because they want to stay in shape and to be strong. The majority of respondents are also aware that it is very important to follow a healthy diet and thankfully no one said that it s not important at all although a small percentage (7%) said that it s not that important. Asked to define a healthy diet, 52% agreed that it means to eat everything in moderation. We also asked them whether they think that unhealthy eating can lead to other diseases, and 94% are, fortunately, aware of this. When asked to specify which diseases may be a direct consequences of unhealthy eating, they identified diabetes (63%), cholesterol (61%), heart disease (49%) and high blood pressure (39%). How important is a healthy diet? 33% 7% 1% 59% Very important Important Not that Important Not important at all 2
88% of our respondents also agree that unhealthy eating habits may lead to various eating disorders. However, their awareness about eating disorders seems to be less than that for diseases. In fact, though 72% identify obesity as an eating disorder resulting from unhealthy eating habits, there is a lot less awareness about anorexia (37%), bulimia (32%), being underweight (28%) and binge eating (24%). Moreover, though 87% of respondents are aware that obesity is very common in Malta, only 22% think that anorexia is common and 13% think bulimia is common. Binge eating and being underweight were only identified as common eating disorders by 5% of our respondents. This latter statistic contrasts sharply with a study carried out among 2008 Maltese people by Grech (2013) which determined that: Which eating disorders do you think are the most common in Malta? 4% 4% 66% 16% 10% anorexia bulimia nervosa obesity binge eating unerweight Binge eating was the most common eating disorder, with 55.8 per cent of respondents having this condition, followed by Anorexia (34.3 per cent) and Bulimia (13.3 per cent). These results were comparable to those of other European countries. According to former president George Abela (2014), only four years ago, there where just fewer than 2,000 persons who suffer from an eating disorder in Malta. Luckily, the vast majority (85%) of our respondents think that eating disorders should be treated as a very serious medical problem, though, on the other hand 55% of them don t know where to go for help if suffering from an eating disorder. In fact, only 7% were able to mention, Dar Kenn għal-saħħtek as a home to help patients suffering from eating disorders. More than half our respondents associate eating disorders with females (young girls, 54%, young women, 3
52%) whereas less than a third are aware that men may also suffer from eating disorders (young boys, 26%; young men, 30%). However, in reality An estimated 10-15% of people with anorexia or bulimia are males. Many clinicians believe that this figure in underreported because many men are ashamed to admit that they may be suffering from something thought to affect only women. (Mirasol, 2017) Our research reveals that there isn t enough awareness about the three main eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder). They may be, as our respondents reported, a consequence of an unhealthy diet or low self-esteem, or stress or even too much pressure to look good, among other things. However, the fact remains that eating disorders are serious mental illnesses, and unless properly treated they are life threatening. In fact, according to Mirasol (2017) they have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Therefore, the importance of raising awareness about this issue cannot be denied. The government, health care and the media all play a critical role in this, though undoubtedly the most important role is held by schools. Schools not only need to promote a healthy lifestyle among their students, but they need to raise awareness about this reality, its consequences and where to seek help among students and parents alike in their quest for real, sustainable education. 4
References: Abela, G (2014) as cited in: Malta Independent (21st February 2014). Home for patients with eating disorders. www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-02-21/news Grech, A. (2013) Eating disorders in Malta. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/23995188/ www.google.com.mt/amp/s/www.mirasol.net/amp/learning.center/eating-disorderstatistics.html http://global-disease-burden.healthgrove.com/l/62618/eating-disorders-in- Malta#Exxplore%20More&s=yhT6n https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/eating http://www.who.int/gender/documents/mentalhealthlast2.pdf 5
Appendix 1: Template for Questionnaire 1. Sex Male Female 2. Age 15-25 26-35 36-45 46-60 61+ 3. Do you have a healthy diet? yes no sometimes 3b. If yes why? 3c. If no why? To stay in shape To be strong To prevent sicknesses To be happy Other I like eating I don t like fruits and vegetables I eat when I m unhappy I m too busy to cook Other 6
4a. How important do you think it is to have a healthy diet? Very important important Not that important Not important at all 4b. What do you consider a healthy diet? Eating vegetables and salads as much as possible. Eating very little in a day Not eating any sweets and desserts Not eating bread or pasta Eating everything in moderation Not eating junk food Other 5a. Do you agree that unhealthy eating habits may lead to various diseases? Strongly agree agree I don t know 5b. Which of the following diseases are a direct consequence of unhealthy eating habits? Low blood pressure High blood pressure Diabetes cholesterol 7
Heart disease strokes Other 6a. Do you agree that unhealthy eating habits may lead to various eating disorders? Strongly agree agree I don t know disagree Strongly disagree 6b. Which of the following eating disorders are a direct consequence of unhealthy eating habits? bulimia nervosa obesity Binge eating anorexia Being underweight Other. 7. Which eating disorders do you think are most common in Malta? Anorexia Bulimia nervosa obesity Binge eating Being underweight Other 8
8a. Do you think eating disorders should be treated as a serious medical problem? Yes No I don t know 8b. Why? 9. Can you mention one institution in Malta which helps people suffering from eating disorders? 10a. Who do you think is most likely to suffer from eating disorders? Young boys Young girls Young men Young women Middle aged men Middle aged women Elderly men Elderly women 10b. Which of the following do you think results in people suffering from eating disorders? An unhealthy diet A low self-esteem Being bullies Being unhappy/ depressed 9
Too much pressure to look good stress Other 11. How easy do you think it is to get out of an eating disorder? Very easy easy I don t know Not that easy Very difficult Thank you. 10