The Healthy Weight Healthy Wales Strategy outlines the first 1000 days is the time before conception, during pregnancy and up to a child’s second birthday which represent a critical part of childhood. It is when we see the most rapid phase of brain development and where the foundations are laid down for our future health and wellbeing.
Establishing healthy habits early in life gives babies and young children the best possible start and reduces their risk of poor physical and emotional health throughout childhood and into adulthood. Good nutrition is a key part of this development. Starting a family is a crucial milestone in anyone’s life and a time in which most are keen to make positive changes in their and their families’ lives.
Within the local health board area our families are facing poverty and struggle to heat their homes, access affordable transport, play activities and feed their children good quality food. For this reason we are prioritising listening to the people who live in our most deprived neighbourhoods. We want to understand what is driving the behaviour which is leading to the poor health outcomes in the area.
We will be listening to our communities to form a collective knowledge, explore and learn to create a shared purpose concerning the recommendations uncovered from our communities to make a system change. We will be speaking with local preschools, community groups, organisations, families, staff who work and live in the area to help us develop our understanding further.
The Healthy Weight Team will lead and enable system change to ensure access to high-quality nutrition during this crucial developmental period. Our initial focus areas within this topic area are:
The Healthy Weights Team are looking to establish relationships with the teams working on these topics across Cwm Taf Morgannwg and Wales to aid implementation of a whole system approach to a healthy weight.
If you have any questions on Babies First 1000 Days Access to Food in Cwm Taf Morgannwg please contact CTM.HealthyWeight@wales.nhs.uk.