WALES' top doctor believes too many of us do not do enough to look after our health - and she wants individuals and communities to take more responsibility for bringing about lifestyle changes.

Launching her annual report, Chief Medical Officer Dr Ruth Hussey said that while good progress is being made in many areas, such as bringing down deaths from heart disease, many aspects of poor health in Wales are "completely preventable."

And while health bodies and councils can work together to provide the framework, opportunities and support for people to ditch unhealthy lifestyles and adopt healthier ones, the key responsibility is ours.

"The lifestyle factors are well known - smoking, poor diet, not doing enough physical activity," said Dr Hussey.

"There's a big push on at the moment regarding smoking, with the start of the Stoptober programme and the Don't Be The One campaign.

"We need more focus too on physical activity. Guidelines talk about 5x30 (30 minutes of exercise at least five days a week) for adults and 5x60 (for secondary school pupils), but a large section of the population in Wales does nothing, and it is about encouraging people not to be daunted by those optimum levels."

Dr Hussey also emphasised too the role that is and that can be played by the primary care sector in Wales in driving and supporting lifestyle changes.

"There has been a change in the pattern of chronic disease and primary care is trying to deal with the consequences, providing a phenomenal level of care day in, day out," she said.

"We should celebrate that, but need also to better match services to the level of need in different communities, and develop strong primary care services.

"It is about prudent healthcare too, really taking responsibility as individuals for our own well being, and about using services better.

"There are really important professionals in the community - doctors, nurses, dentists, advanced nurse practitioners, pharmacists. We must maintain and grow the GP workforce but also use the talents of these other people."

In her report Dr Hussey advocates a ban on junk food advertising on television before 9pm, to help fight childhood obesity, and also believes the time is right for a UK-wide debate on whether a tax should be levied on sugary drinks.