MORE action is called for to tackle obesity as figures show the Gwent valleys have some of the highest levels of obesity in the Western world.

Blaenau Gwent AM Alun Davies last week visited Wales’ only NHS weight management clinic for adults, at Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan, Ebbw Vale, and called for action as Wales closes the gap on the world’s fattest nation, the USA.

Figures from the latest Welsh Health Survey show that the Gwent valleys have some of the highest levels of obesity, not just in Wales, but in the Western world.

The average number of obese people in each of Wales’ local authorities is 22 per cent, with Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly and Torfaen among seven that have figures above that.

They all posted an average of between 26 and 27 per cent of their populations who are obese, with Mr Davies saying the most effective way of tackling this is addressing unhealthy lifestyles.

He said: “I don’t accept that legislation alone can deal with the public health problem.

Legislation cannot dictate people’s lifestyle choices, but we can play a part in educating against the wrong choices. We have to clearly demonstrate the links between poor health in later life being associated with fatty foods and unhealthy habits.”

Mr Davies visited the weight management clinic with Dr Nadim Haboubi, chairman of the National Obesity Forum for Wales, who revealed the obesity epidemic is getting worse, with the Gwent valleys a hotspot.

Mr Davies added: “Social and economic, as well as health factors have been included in the reasons for the differences (between areas). This has in part re-branded the endemic problem as the ‘disease of the working classes’, with lifestyle clearly playing a key part in differing health outcomes.”

Dr Haboubi said the problem is “huge, massive, worse than England, worse than anywhere in the UK and among the worst in the Western world, I would argue.

“The worst is probably the USA but we’re certainly not far behind,” he said.