People across Monmouthshire are being urged to help shape Wales’s ambition to reduce and prevent obesity ahead of the deadline for a nationwide consultation.

Limiting hot food takeaways near schools and ending the sale of energy drinks to anyone under the age of 16, are some of the proposals aimed to improve the health of young people and stop rising rates of obesity.

The Welsh government launched its Healthy Food Environment and Energy Drink consultations in June, however the deadline to have your say is tomorrow, September 1.

Pippa Britton, a double Paralympian who competed on the Welsh and GB archery teams for 15 years, is an ambassador for the Healthy Weight:Healthy Wales strategy, the long-term strategy to prevent and reduce obesity, and called on people to beat the deadline to share their views on Wales’ healthy eating future.

Pippa, who is also Vice Chair Sport Wales and is an Independent Member of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said: “So many problems are caused by leading unhealthy lifestyles, from being prevented from doing well at school to developing life-threatening diseases like cancer or can lead to lifelong disability. Coping with a daily challenge like that can make it feel even harder to make healthy choices.

“The food we eat has so much to do with our health, and so it’s only right that we make sure everyone has as much access to healthy food and drink as they do to the more unhealthy products we can consume.

“We need to provide our young people the best opportunity possible to live healthy and fulfilled lives, and so I urge anyone, whoever you are, who wants to help shape Wales into the country it can be to get involved with the consultations before the opportunity is gone.’’

Deputy minister for mental health and wellbeing, Lynne Neagle, said: “The closing date for the consultations are fast approaching, and so I’d urge people to have their say and take part.

“It only takes a couple of minutes to complete – but the benefits of introducing positive changes will be felt in Wales for generations to come.

“This is about removing the barriers that prevent or put people off from making healthier food and drink choices. Often, foods that are sugary or high in fat or salt are more readily available and promoted – this has to change if we are to reduce obesity in our country. This is an open and frank conversation about how we can create a step change in our choices and behaviors.”

In Wales, approximately 1.6 million adults are overweight and 655,000 people are obese. In addition, more than one in four of children in Wales are overweight or obese when they start primary school. It is estimated obesity costs the NHS £6.1 billion per year across the UK.

The latest National Diet and Nutrition Survey shows people are consuming too much sugar, saturated fat and salt and too many calories, but not enough fibre, fruit and vegetables. The survey shows that young people aged between 11 -18 years consume up to three times the recommended maximum amount of sugar.

As part of Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales, the long-term strategy to prevent and reduce obesity, the consultation also includes proposals on banning the sale of energy drinks to young people under 16.

Some energy drinks have 21 teaspoons of sugar and the same caffeine as three cups of coffee, and research shows that children who drink at least one energy drink per week are more likely to report symptoms such as headaches, sleep problems and stomach problems as well as low mood and irritability

Former Newport Gwent Dragons players and Wales internationals Aled and Nathan Brew are two of the ambassadors for the Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales strategy, the long-term strategy to prevent and reduce obesity, and the brothers called on people to beat the deadline to share their views on Wales’ healthy eating future.

Aled, who also played for Ospreys, Bath, and Biarritz Olympique in France, said: “As a sportsman, I’ve learned so much about how much a healthy diet affects the way your mind and body works. But since retiring, it’s become even more clear to me how important balancing your health is day-to-day even when you’re not training.

“You hear worrying reports like how some energy drinks have 21 teaspoons of sugar and the same caffeine as three cups of coffee. This just isn’t healthy and no wonder experts say those sort of levels in a young person has a negative effect on how they feel and how well they do at school.”

Nathan said: “It’s so important that we do something to remove the barriers that stop us living healthier lives. And if we’re going to make sure that children in particular have a better chance to grow up without suffering health issues then we need to act now.”

Dietician, TV presenter, and former Great British Bake Off contestant Beca Lyne-Pirkis is an ambassador for the Healthy Weight:Healthy Wales strategy, the long-term strategy to prevent and reduce obesity, and called on people to beat the deadline to share their views on Wales’ healthy eating future.

Beca said: “Like so many people in Wales, I love my food. And finding that balance between eating the things I love and keeping a balanced diet can sometimes be a challenge.

“Being targeted and bombarded with promotions and advertising for food and drink high in things like fat, sugar and salt makes it even more difficult to limit unhealthy diets, especially when raising a family when time and financial pressure can affect our decisions.

“That’s why it’s so important to address the balance between healthy and unhealthy food inside and outside our homes, and getting involved with the consultations will allow us to make sure we go about that the right way.”

Emily Brooks, from Crickhowell, is also an ambassador for the Healthy Weight:Healthy Wales strategy, the long-term strategy to prevent and reduce obesity, and called on people to beat the deadline to share their views on Wales’ healthy eating future.

Emily, 23, said: “Young people like myself are disproportionately targeted by promotions and marketing for unhealthy food and drink, but because of or ages it’s easy to forget the damage we can do to ourselves by not having a balance with healthy lifestyles. The fact that some children re starting school already obese is so concerning.

“We need to do something about the fact that diets that are high in sugar, fat, and salt are negatively affecting how well some young people do in education and how it can negatively impact the mood of children in particular. We can’t afford to just do nothing and so we need as many people as possible to take part in these consultations to make sure we take the best steps forward.”