A new digital approach to find some answers to the big obesity questions facing communities in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan is being launched.
CyclingPulling Our Weight Together will ask the public to have their say on a range of hot topics related to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight and to help steer efforts to support people in living healthier lifestyles.
Dr Sharon Hopkins, the Director of Public Health for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, is taking a new approach to her annual report – traditionally a large, formal document – and is instead hoping to engage with individuals, communities and organisations online.
She said: “Last year, my report focused on the choices we make every day which affect our health and wellbeing. It described the challenges we all face in trying to maintain a healthy weight. I explained the impact of being overweight or obese on our health and what we can all do to help each other.
“I suggested actions for us all, for communities, organisations, schools, the NHS and councils, the voluntary sector, Welsh Government and the food and drinks industry
“This year I’m taking this information a stage further and want to have a conversation with everyone about what we are all doing to achieve and maintain a healthy weight and how we can take action together.
“It could be activities in communities, schools or in the workplace; changes to services; different foods in our shops or in our schools; policy change by government or even reducing the speed limits on our roads to encourage walking and cycling.”
To spark debate Dr Hopkins will be publishing fact sheets on a particular issue and pose a question and encouraging everyone to join the conversation.
She will be engaging in online chats on Facebook, Twitter (using the hashtag #cavpowt) and inviting views to be emailed or posted to her office.
Dr Hopkins said: “It can be hard for people to engage with a formal annual report. Hopefully this year many more will get involved and be part of this new approach.
“We need to all support each other together, to improve our health and to make changes everywhere so that the healthy choice becomes the easy choice. I’d like this conversation with everyone to continue until we achieve just that. Together we will look at our progress and how our actions, comments and suggestions are making change happen.”
