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Beyond bans: How an outcomes-based approach can tackle Wales' obesity crisis - 25 Mar 2026 12:00 – 13:00

This event is available in both Welsh and English.

Y tu hwnt i waharddiadau: Sut y gall dull sy'n seiliedig ar ganlyniadau fynd i'r afael ag argyfwng gordewdra Cymru

Mae amgylchedd bwyd Cymru ar groesffordd. Gyda chyfraddau gordewdra ymhlith plant yn uwch nag yn unrhyw ran arall o'r Deyrnas Unedig, nid yw'r angen am newid systemig erioed wedi bod yn fwy brys.

Yn 2025, cyhoeddodd llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig 'safon bwyd iach' newydd -polisi yn seiliedig ar gynnig Nesta ar gyfer targedau iechyd gorfodol i fanwerthwyr mawr. Drwy roi cymhellion i fusnesau bwyd mawr, gan gynnwys archfarchnadoedd, wneud newidiadau bach i'r hyn maen nhw'n ei stocio a'i hyrwyddo, mae gan y polisi hwn y potensial i leihau gordewdra o un rhan o bump heb gynyddu costau i ddefnyddwyr.

Ond sut mae'r polisi'n wahanol i bolisïau blaenorol sy'n wynebu'r diwydiant? Yn wahanol i bolisïau cyfarwyddebol blaenorol, sy'n aml yn canolbwyntio ar wahardd tactegau penodol fel prynu lluosog neu losin wrth y ddesg dalu, mae'r safon newydd hon yn seiliedig ar ganlyniadau. Nid yw'n dweud wrth fanwerthwyr sut i redeg eu busnes; yn hytrach, mae'n gosod targed iechyd clir ar gyfer eu cyfanswm gwerthiannau ac yn rhoi'r rhyddid iddynt ei gyrraedd boed hynny drwy addasu ryseitiau, prisio ffrwythau'n well neu gynlluniau siopau mwy craff.

Gyda Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol yn gosod dyletswydd gyfreithiol i wella iechyd ein cenedl, mae angen dull polisi arnom a all symud y nodwydd mewn gwirionedd.

Ymunwch â ni ar-lein ddydd Mercher 25 Mawrth o 12:00-13:00 GMT, i ddarganfod pam na all Cymru fforddio cael ei gadael ar ôl ar bolisïau dylanwadol, fel y safon bwyd iach, a fydd yn sbarduno newidiadau i wella'r amgylchedd bwyd.

Bydd Andy Regan, pennaeth Nesta Cymru, yng nghwmni Sara Elias, cynghorydd polisi, a Manny Narula, pennaeth cyflawni polisi, i archwilio:

  • Pam mae gwahardd 'prynu un, cael un am ddim' yn ddechrau da, ond targedau iechyd gorfodol yw'r hyn a fydd mewn gwirionedd yn ailgydbwyso basgedi siopa yng Nghymru
  • Pam mae cyfraddau uwch o ordewdra ac anghydraddoldeb iechyd yng Nghymru yn gwneud yr achos dros y polisi hwn hyd yn oed yn fwy brys nag yng ngweddill y Deyrnas Unedig
  • Sut y gall y safon ledled y Deyrnas Unedig ddarparu llinell sylfaen genedlaethol y gall Cymru wedyn adeiladu arni gyda'i strategaethau iechyd datganoledig ei hun
  • Sut mae'r polisi hwn yn ffitio i dirwedd etholiad 2026 a cham nesaf Pwysau Iach: Strategaeth Cymru Iach

Mae'r digwyddiad hwn ar gyfer llunwyr polisi, gweision sifil, ymchwilwyr a phawb sydd â diddordeb mewn trawsnewid yr amgylchedd bwyd yng Nghymru i wella iechyd y genedl.

Cofrestrwch heddiw i dderbyn y ddolen ffrydio byw a negeseuon atgoffa am y digwyddiad yn syth i'ch mewnflwch.

The food environment in Wales is at a crossroads. With childhood obesity rates higher than in any other part of the UK, the need for a systemic change has never been more urgent.

In 2025, the UK government announced a new ‘healthy food standard’ - a policy based on Nesta’s proposal for mandatory health targets for large retailers. By incentivising large food businesses, including supermarkets, to make small changes to what they stock and promote, this policy has the potential to reduce obesity by a fifth without increasing costs for consumers.

But how is the policy different from previous industry-facing policies? Unlike previous directive policies, which often focus on banning specific tactics like multibuy or checkout sweets, this new standard is outcomes-based. It doesn’t tell retailers how to run their business; instead, it sets a clear health target for their total sales and gives them the freedom to reach it whether that’s through recipe tweaks, better pricing of fruit or smarter store layouts.

With the Well-being of Future Generations Act setting a legal duty to improve the health of our nation, we need a policy approach that can actually move the needle.

Join us online on Wednesday 25 March from 12:00-13:00 GMT, to find out why Wales cannot afford to be left behind on influential policies, like the healthy food standard, that will drive changes to improve the food environment.

Andy Regan, head of Nesta Cymru, will be joined by Sara Elias, policy advisor, and Manny Narula, head of policy delivery, to explore:

  • Why banning ‘buy one, get one free’ is a good start, but mandatory health targets are what will actually rebalance shopping baskets in Wales
  • Why Wales’ higher rates of obesity and health inequality make the case for this policy even more urgent than in the rest of the UK
  • How the UK-wide standard can provide a national baseline that Wales can then build upon with its own devolved health strategies
  • How this policy fits into the 2026 election landscape and the next phase of the Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales strategy

This event is for policymakers, civil servants, researchers and all those interested in transforming the food environment in Wales to improve the nation’s health.

Register today to receive the live stream link and event reminders straight to your inbox.

Speakers

Sara Pic

Sara Alias

She/Her

Sara supports the UK 2040: Options work, helping to bring experts together to address the defining issues facing the UK and Wales. Sara also supports Nesta Cymru’s strategic work - delivering against our three missions in Wales. Before Nesta, Sara worked with Public Health Wales and the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales to support public bodies in implementing the Well-being of Future Generations Act. She delivered projects demonstrating how long-term thinking could be used, delivered training to develop future literacy and compiled supporting resources. Sara gained an MSc in Social Research Methods and Policy from the London School of Economics and has a varied background in research and policy. This includes leading a local authority strategy and involvement team, managing research projects for international charity BBC Media Action and delivering policy research and evaluation consultancy. Outside of work, Sara can be found enjoying podcasts, ideally whilst taking a walk on the beach. Sara is also a school governor in her spare time.

Manny Narula

Manny Narula

He/Him

Manny is the head of policy delivery in Nesta's healthy life mission. Before Nesta, Manny worked as a management consultant at Oliver Wyman, where he delivered projects with UK and European public sector organisations. He previously held policy and strategy roles in HM Treasury, the Cabinet Office and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Manny holds a Master’s in Public Policy from University College London. Outside of work, Manny enjoys keeping fit, watching sport, cooking and eating his way around London’s coffee shops and restaurants.

Andy Regan_final

Andy Regan

He/Him

Andy leads Nesta’s work in Wales, with a particular focus on influencing devolved policy around our missions, and promoting the use of applied innovation in policy making. He joined Nesta in 2021 as Wales Mission Manager in the Sustainable Future team, leading our partnership project with the Development Bank of Wales, and our work to influence devolved policy on heat. He later became a Senior Mission Manager, leading the mission’s GB-wide work on demand flexibility and Inclusion Andy has a background in energy policy in roles at Ofgem and Citizens Advice - where he co-chaired the Fuel Poverty Coalition Cymru. He joined Nesta from the independent think tank the Institute of Welsh Affairs, where he oversaw their policy and external affairs work. Outside work most of his interests revolve around music, including being guitarist in Welsh indie-pop band The School.