School exercise plan to tackle childhood obesity

ALL primary schools in Carmarthenshire will have to offer two hours of physical education per week after council chiefs approved a hard-hitting report about childhood obesity levels.

- RICHARD YOULE Senior local democracy reporter [e-mail]

The report, which also urged action to get more youngsters swimming - including potentially reducing or ending transport costs to pools - made seven recommendations and was written by a council task and finish group.

The group heard from public health experts and also reviewed studies and policies on childhood obesity.

The key finding was that 31.4% of four to five-year-olds were overweight or obese in Carmarthenshire - a higher number than any other Welsh county - based on 2021-22 data. The Wales average was 27%.

Introducing the report at a cabinet meeting on June 30, Cllr Gareth John, chairman of the task and finish group, described the data as "alarming" and said obesity was one the "greatest public health challenges of our time".

Cllr John said: "As we all know, unhealthy lifestyle choices and behaviour significantly increase the possibility of developing chronic diseases and [are] a major cause of preventable disease and early death."

He said the determinants affecting health were numerous and complex but added: "However, everyone agrees that prevention is better than cure and early and positive interventions around diet, movement and social networks play a key part."