Excess weight and obesity is becoming more common in Wales, and at the same time our collective ability to recognise what being a healthy weight looks like is reducing. This is a cause of significant public health concern, since carrying excess weight can have significant implications for an individual’s physical and mental health.
At its simplest being overweight or obese is the result of an energy imbalance. It occurs when the amount of energy we take in as food is much greater than the energy we use going about our daily lives.
Therefore being overweight or obese describes someone who is carrying an excess of body fat, which results in weight gain. The most widely used measure of obesity is the body mass index (BMI) – weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. BMI provides a good indicator for levels of body fat.
There are some other less common measures of obesity, including the waist to hip ratio, waist circumference and abdominal fat.
Obesity prevalence is rising in Wales, as it is globally, and the healthcare costs associated with treating obesity are high and continuing to increase.
Being overweight or obese increases the risk of a wide range of chronic diseases, principally type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease including stroke, as well as some types of cancer, kidney disease, obstructive sleep apnoea, gout, osteoarthritis, and liver disease, among others. Obesity is also associated with and contributes to a shortened lifespan. Our Health and its Determinants report gives an overview of the health and well-being of Wales.
It can also impair a person’s well-being, quality of life and ability to earn. Poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle are the main causes of overweight and obesity. Some people may also experience psychological problems such as low self-esteem, poor self-image, and low confidence levels.
Weight loss reduces all of these diseases in a dose-related manner: the more weight lost, and the closer to a healthy weight the individual becomes, the better the outcome. Obesity leads to an increased number of years of life lived with a disability and lowers life expectancy.
The proportion of children and adults in Wales who are of a healthy weight is dropping:
Many of our sedentary behaviours start in childhood. For example, many primary and secondary school children are taken to school by car, which sets in place patterns of behaviour that then repeat throughout life.
The case for action on obesity in Wales establishes the scale of the challenge.
Public Health Wales has produced a suite of evidence documents to support the Welsh Government’s ‘Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales’ strategy:
Evidence Reviews
Briefings
International Perspectives International perspectives on action to prevent and reduce obesity
Literature reviews of international evidence, which includes a review of the literature gathered from around the world about innovative action on obesity.
Rapid review of ultra-processed food and obesity
This report examines the link between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and obesity. It gives an overview of the literature, key studies and provides a working definition of ultra-processed food according to the NOVA classification.
Wales has a very supportive policy context, including:
By 2030, we want Wales to have an environment and society in which healthy choices are the easy choices. This means increasing physical activity and promoting healthy weight. Find out more about how we're working towards a healthier future for Wales.
The Whole Systems Approach (WSA) is designed to address the rising challenge of obesity and overweight in Wales. By recognising the complex factors that influence our health, WSA brings together health organisations, local councils, schools, businesses, and other key stakeholders to create lasting change in our communities. Through collaborative efforts, WSA aims to make it easier for people to access nutritious food, be active, and lead healthier lives, building a foundation for a healthier future across Wales. Whole Systems Approach to Healthy Weight - Public Health Wales
Every Child was launched in 2017 to improve the health and well-being of children. Part of its work includes 10 Steps to a Healthy Weight which outlines the key factors that increase the likelihood of a child being a healthy weight when they start school. The advice focuses on three age ranges: pre conception and pregnancy, 0-2 years and 2-5 years.
We are also utilising universal settings based approaches such as: