How does the Welsh Government plan to tackle child obesity in Wales?
Our Healthy Weight Healthy Wales strategy recognises the importance of intervening early to prevent obesity and takes a system-wide approach, recognising how our environment influences our everyday choices.
The strategy has a strong focus on the early years and childhood. Children and family weight management pilots, branded PIPYN, are funded in Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, and Anglesey to support families with young children, who are living with overweight or obesity, to achieve healthier behaviours and a healthy weight. The pilots also aim to improve the healthiness of food on offer within settings such as nurseries, schools, and community settings.
Health boards are provided with funding and guidance to develop weight management services throughout the life course, which includes services aimed at children, young people and their families.
The Universal Free School Meal scheme, which offers healthy school food to all primary school children in Wales also helps prevent and reduce childhood obesity.