Wales to introduce active living campaign

Plans to encourage people in Wales to become more active and do some physical activity every day are being unveiled.

The initiative from the Welsh Assembly Government is aimed at improving people’s health and combating obesity. The most recent Welsh Health Survey shows that more than half of Welsh men and women are classified as overweight or obese.

The assembly government has developed an action plan with key partners and is inviting people to outline their views on priorities for the next five years.

The heritage minister is visiting Cardiff council to see how it is encouraging staff to be more active. The authority is promoting active travel, a scheme which aims to reduce single occupancy vehicle use and support alternative modes of travel. The council also provides pool bikes for employees to use to ride to meetings and for leisure cycling so that they can incorporate exercise into their daily routines. Facilities including secure cycle parking, lockers and changing rooms have been developed with the help of funding from the Sports Council for Wales.

Heritage Minister, Alun Ffred Jones, a keen cyclist and chair of Nantlle Vale Football Club in Gwynedd, said: “The assembly government wants to support the Welsh population to be more physically active on a daily basis because of the health, social and economic benefits that exercise provides.

“In order to give that support, we need to find even more effective ways for different organisations across the public, private and third sector to work together and to better educate and engage individuals in sport, physical activity and active recreation.

“We have developed a physical activity action plan, called ‘Creating an Active Wales’, with the help of a wide range of organisations and we are now launching a consultation to ensure everyone has an opportunity to contribute their own ideas.”

Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dr Tony Jewell, said: “Low levels of physical activity along with unhealthy eating patterns are leading to increases in obesity and ill-health.

“The most recent Welsh Health Survey shows that more than half of Welsh men and women are classified as overweight or obese. We need to take action to tackle these problems and this action plan will help to provide a menu of opportunities for people to become more active.”

In January, the assembly government launched a £1.4m programme to give 2,000 overweight children a 10-week diet and exercise course.

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