Obesity Goes Above 20% Among Adults - Smoking Ban Working, Wales

Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: Smoking / Quit Smoking;  Respiratory / Asthma
Article Date: 19 Sep 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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Commenting on figures in The Welsh Health Survey that showed the level of obesity in Welsh adults went above 20% for the first time last year, Welsh Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, Jenny Randerson AM said:

"The fact that obesity in Wales is continuing its upwards rise and is not slowing is deeply worrying. This breaking through of the significant barrier of 20% of the entire adult population being obese shows there is a crisis very much alive in Wales and the Assembly Government's strategy is not having the desired effect. We are now very close to 60% of adults being overweight. These are deeply troubling statistics.

Commenting on the figures showing a massive drop in the exposure of non-smoking adults to cigarette smoke, Jenny Randerson added:

"The smoking ban has worked. The statistics make that very clear, although the falls in the number of adult smokers is not as big as we would like. WAG needs to make sure the ban is backed up by more measures to help people to quit, particularly in deprived areas."

Welsh Liberal Democrats