Nutrition Network for Wales

A poor diet is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality. In the UK it has been estimated that one third of deaths from heart disease and one quarter from cancer are attributable to poor diet.

In 2003, after extensive consultation, Food and Well Being – Reducing Inequalities through a Nutrition Strategy for Wales, was launched. The strategy outlined the action required by key players to improve the diet of the people of Wales. The strategy set out nine recommendations, followed by a series of actions, required by key players. The creation of the Nutrition Network for Wales was a key action identified in recommendation five: “provide information and training to key players including policy-makers, health professionals and other professionals to tackle poor nutrition in Wales.”

In 2004 the Food Standards Agency Wales commissioned the Wales Centre for Health to undertake a consultation to determine what stakeholders wanted from the network in terms of its scope, purpose, structure and identity. In 2005 the Food Standards Agency then commissioned the Wales Centre for Health, now part of Public Health Wales to develop and establish the Nutrition Network for Wales. The Nutrition Network for Wales for Wales was formally launched in June 2006.

The Nutrition Network for Wales aims to link with and bring together all those individuals, organisations and sectors with a role to play in improving diet and nutrition in Wales. Nutrition Network for Wales partners include representatives from academia, the community, education, Government, healthcare, industry, local government, the media, public health and the voluntary sector. The Nutrition Network for Wales supports its partners by providing and improving access to information and by providing a forum for sharing knowledge and good practice, enabling partners to learn from each other.

In 2007 the Nutrition Network for Wales and Physical Activity Network formed an alliance.