Why Malta's men weigh in as Europe's fattest

The Guardian

By Marie Benoît

European Union figures released this week make grim reading for British men, 22% of whom, we are told, are obese. But it is Malta that has the dubious honour of heading the league table. Here, a quarter of men are at least 20% over their healthy maximum weight.
How can this be possible, you may ask, given the much vaunted Mediterranean diet? The fact is that, apart from olive oil, fish and fresh fruit and vegetables, the typical Maltese meal also includes large amounts of crusty, slightly salty bread. The picture is made worse by big portions at every meal and the fact that most Maltese prefer buffet restaurants where you can fill your plate with portions verging on the obscene. But no one is embarrassed. It is the norm. Quantity rather than quality is what goes down well.

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