MORE must be done to encourage people in "sport obsessed Wales" to take regular exercise, says a Gwent AM.

Minister for culture and sport, and Newport East AM John Griffiths said there is little evidence to suggest any significant increase in young people and adults participating in recommended levels of physical activity.

Mr Griffiths was speaking after giving evidence to an inquiry by the Assembly's equalities and local government committee's into participation levels in sport, and following the publication of worrying figures about overweight and obesity among reception class children in Wales.

The latter, in the Child Measurement Programme for Wales report, revealed that nearly 30 per cent of four-five year-olds in Gwent are overweight or obese, with the obesity level in this age group in Gwent at 12.5 per cent, or one-in-eight.

Across Wales, 35 per cent of under-16s are overweight or obese, including around 19 per cent who are obese, and nearly three-in-five adults are overweight or obese, according to the Welsh Health Survey.

"As a nation we appear to be obsessed by sport," said Mr Griffiths.

"Everybody has an opinion about who should play outside-half for Wales or what Chris Coleman needs to do to make us qualify for a major (football) tournament.

"But this undoubted passion for sport doesn't seem to translate into people taking regular exercise. As the minister for culture and sport I'm concerned by this."

Mr Griffiths highlighted examples of good practice to the committee, including the Welsh Government's free swimming initiative, which helped increase the percentage of children able to swim 25 metres to 75 per cent in 2011/12, from 69 per cent in 2010/11.

He also said there are 330 registered disability sport clubs in Wales, compared to 31 in 2002.

There has also been a 25 per cent increase in Welsh gymnastics membership since last summer's Olympic Games.

"The health benefits to us as a nation of seeing more people taking part in sport or enjoying regular exercise is obvious," said Mr Griffiths.

"A great deal of good work is already being done to encourage people to participate in sport but it's quite apparent more needs to be done."

He intends to review the approach to encouraging people to be more physically active with health minister Mark Drakeford, chief medical officer Dr Ruth Hussey, and Sport Wales.