<p>Childhood Obesity</p>

Part of 3. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport – in the Senedd at 2:57 pm on 21 June 2017.

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Photo of Rebecca Evans Rebecca Evans Labour 2:57, 21 June 2017

Thank you very much, and this is the subject of ongoing discussions that I am having with the education Minister as well. It’s worth noting that, actually, nearly three quarters of four to five-year-olds are of a healthy weight. However, we want to concentrate our efforts on the remaining quarter who aren’t of a healthy weight. Levels of obesity amongst children has levelled off in recent years, but, again, things needs to be moving in the right direction.

It’s important to note, as well, that we must support children who are already overweight at a young age, and I’m really pleased that Public Health Wales has been working with health boards and has now developed an agreed service specification for level 3 services for childhood obesity. So, this will help us in terms of the efforts we’re making to make a fully integrated obesity service at all tiers of support in Wales. So, I think that this is an exciting, new and important step forward in terms of supporting children who are already overweight. If we take action at an early age, then, certainly, they can look forward to being of a healthy weight as adults.