Reducing inequalities will be at the heart of the Welsh
Government’s Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales Delivery Plan for
2022-24, supported by a £13m investment.
Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, confirmed the new funding will
support a range of prevention, early intervention and specialised
services that will prevent and reduce obesity, particularly in
areas of deprivation.
Ms Neagle announced details of the plan whilst joining children
at Ysgol y Graig in Merthyr Tydfil, on the first day of Veg
Power’s Eat Them to Defeat Them campaign.
Primary schools from across Wales are taking part in the
five-week programme which will help them understand the
importance of eating healthy foods in a fun way.
Enabling schools and other education settings to be places where
physical and mental health are supported as a priority is a key
part of the new delivery plan.
There is a particular focus on early years and children, with
local public health teams in Merthyr, Anglesey and Cardiff given
funding to run three pilot Children and Families Programmes.
The programmes will work with schools and other local settings to
deliver activities that support families to plan, prepare and
cook healthier food.
The next two years of Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales will also
have a strong emphasis on recovery from the pandemic. We know
that obesity has been a strong risk factor for serious illness,
hospitalisation or death from COVID-19.
This has brought into sharp focus the reasons why dietary and
physical activity behaviours are vital to people’s overall health
As part of the plan, a new All Wales Diabetes Prevention
Programme will be rolled out to provide support, backed by £1m
annual funding.
A public consultation will also be launched in the spring which
will ask for public opinion on a range of measures which will
include looking at price promotions, calorie labelling, planning,
and licensing.
Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing , said: “We are
ambitious for Wales to be one of the first countries to see a
reduction in obesity. This is our second delivery plan for
Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales and our focus is on prevention.
"The pandemic has brought about extra challenges and the new plan
will reflect this.
“There is a clear link between obesity and deprivation. Obesity
rates are around 7% higher in areas of high deprivation for
children.
"We also know that this tracks into adulthood, with obesity being
linked to higher rates of illness in those areas. We are
determined to improve health inequalities and reducing obesity
levels will go a long way to achieving that.”
Professor Kelechi Nnoaham, Director of Public Health at
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, said: “As a
health board, we are committed to do all we can to reduce
obesity.
"Obesity is a complex challenge and we know that there are no
simple solutions.
"The only way to make progress is to work together in partnership
with the government, local authorities, and organisations such as
schools and community groups. Everyone plays a role in making it
easier for people to live healthier lives.”
Notes to editors
The Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, will join primary school
children at Ysgol y Graig in Merthyr Tydfil, on the first day of
Veg Power’s Eat Them to Defeat Them campaign to launch
the new Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales delivery plan.
