Unhealthy eating habits strain Thai health system, hamper national economic advancement
*Warning Signals of a Nation's Unhealthy Dietary Habits *
Cutting through the sugarcoating, Thailand's appetite for sweet, salty, and fatty delicacies is causing an uproar among health officials. The Department of Health Promotion (DHPS) is raising red flags about a potential epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among Thais, due to an overindulgence in the foods that make our tongues tingle and our waistlines bulge.
Dr. Panuwat Panket, head honcho of the Public Health Ministry's DHPS, is sounding the alarm bells after a recent nationwide survey among 52,000 participants showed some disturbing eating patterns. Thais are polishing off more sugar, fat, and salt than their dentists and doctors would approve, he reports.
More than half of respondents (51%) are guzzling down sweet foods and beverages like sugary drinks, iced milk tea, iced coffee, and fruit juices at least thrice a week, according to the study. Over four in ten (46%) are fiending for high-fat fare, such as fried dishes, stir-fries, and fast food, and almost half (50%) can't seem to resist salty treats like som tam (papaya salad), yam (spicy salads), and larb (spicy minced meat salad) throughout the week.
These voracious eating habits are sending a clear message: NCDs are on the rise. And we're not just talking about taste bud explosion but potentially life-threatening diseases like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, and kidney disorders. That's according to Dr. Panuwat's assessment.
Dr. Adisorn Vatthanasak, DHPS deputy director-general, points a gnarled finger at a lack of nutritional knowledge among Thais, particularly when it comes to managing salt levels. Only 15% of respondents showed a sound understanding of the dangers of excessive consumption, a worrying stat when considering their awareness of the dangers of sugary and fatty foods. The survey further revealed that nearly 60% of participants felt hesitant about requesting less seasoning when dining out, even when they understood the potential health risks.
Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin labels NCDs as one of the most pressing health and economic challenges in Thailand, and not without reason. More than 33 million Thais are already facing the ticking time of an NCD, with over 400,000 deaths and more than 2 million new cases announced every year. The impact isn't limited to personal health; it's a full-blown economic nail in the coffin, costing the country over a trillion baht annually, amounting to around 9.7% of the GDP.
In fiscal year 2024, the National Health Security Office's budget of 152.7 billion baht will allocate more than half to cover NCD treatments alone. That's almost 52%! NCDs are largely preventable, but they continue to present an unsustainable burden on individuals, families, and the healthcare system.
NCDs are largely caused by poor lifestyle choices, including a diet that emphasizes sugary, salty, and fatty foods, smoking, alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyles, and long-term exposure to PM2.5 air pollution. Health officials are urging the public to make healthier choices, such as reducing the consumption of processed foods high in salt, sugar, and saturated fats, and increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables. Other suggestions include using nutrition labels and front-of-package labels to help consumers make informed choices, promoting balanced diets, increasing public awareness about the risks associated with NCDs, and strengthening public health policies to support healthier food choices.
References:
[1] "Food safety, quality, and nutrition in Thailand: challenges and opportunities"[2] "The prevalence of overweight and obesity among Thai adults: an analysis of the 2016 National Survey on Nutrition"[3] "Effectiveness of public health campaigns to promote healthy eating and physical activity in Thailand"[4] "Improving food labeling in Thailand: legislative progress and mapping of stakeholders"
- The rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Thailand is a significant concern for health officials, with chronic conditions like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and kidney disorders showing a steep increase, largely due to poor dietary habits.
- A lack of nutritional knowledge among Thais is compromising their health, with many unaware of the dangers of excessive salt consumption and the benefits of a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
- The financial burden of NCDs is staggering, with the National Health Security Office allocating more than half of its budget in fiscal year 2024 to cover NCD treatments alone, amounting to an unsustainable economic challenge for the country.
- To combat the growing problem of NCDs, health officials are advocating for healthier lifestyle choices, including reducing the consumption of processed foods high in salt, sugar, and saturate fats, and increasing public awareness about the risks associated with NCDs, while also strengthening public health policies to support healthier food choices.
