Unhealthy food decisions strain Thai healthcare system, stunt country's economic progress
Redefined Report on Thailand's Unhealthy Dietary Habits
The Department of Health Promotion (DHPS) is sounding the alarm over Thailand's dietary practices, citing worries about the nation adopting non-communicable diseases (NCDs) due to an excessive intake of sugary, salty, and fatty foods.
In a recent survey of 52,000 participants, Dr Panuwat Panket, the Public Health Ministry's DHPS director-general, uncovered a troubling picture of Thai eating habits. More than half the respondents regularly overindulge in sugary beverages, iced tea, iced coffee, and fruit juices, and an equal number feast on high-fat foods like fried dishes, stir-fries, and fast food weekly. Salty dishes like som tam, yam, and larb are devoured by about 50% of participants at least three times a week.
These habits, according to Dr Panket, significantly boost the risk of NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, and kidney disorders.
Dr Adisorn Vatthanasak, DHPS deputy director-general, addressed the pressing issue of nutritional knowledge deficiencies among Thais. He found that only 15% possess a decent understanding of healthy salt intake, significantly lower than their awareness of the dangers of excessive sugar and fat. What's more, a staggering 60% feel reluctant to request less seasoning at restaurants despite knowing the potential harm to their health.
The escalating NCD crisis has Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin concerned. Over 33 million Thais currently live with NCDs, with 400,000 deaths and more than 2 million new cases reported annually. The Minister emphasized that the effects of NCDs aren't confined to public health alone; they place a heavy fiscal burden on the economy, resulting in an annual loss of over 1 trillion baht – equivalent to 9.7% of the GDP.
In the upcoming fiscal year 2024, the National Health Security Office plans to allocate more than 52% of its 152.7 billion baht budget toward addressing NCDs. Somsak believes that while many NCDs can be prevented, the current burden on individuals, families, and the healthcare system remains unsustainable.
He pointed to lifestyle behaviors like poor diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity, as well as long-term PM2.5 air pollution exposure, as leading causes of NCDs in Thailand. Consequently, he encourages citizens to adopt healthier dietary practices, focusing on reducing consumptions of processed foods brimming with salt, sugar, and fat, and increasing fruit and vegetable intake.
Government initiatives against NCDs associated with dietary habits also involve prime ministerial initiatives and multi-health promoting programs focusing on lifestyle modifications, prevention, and the development of healthier patterns to minimize the risk of diet-related diseases. Private healthcare providers are sponsoring preventive healthcare approaches, leveraging advanced technology to improve general wellbeing and shifting the focus from cure to prevention. Additionally, research is being carried out to support caregiver health and occupational wellness, stressing the interrelated nature of healthcare and lifestyle changes to combat NCDs.
- The science of nutrition has highlighted the risks associated with Thais' dietary habits, which predominantly involve excessive consumption of sweet and fatty foods.
- The Department of Health-and-Wellness is concerned about the financial implications of inactivity and poor diet, as NCDs not only affect public health but also place a heavy fiscal burden on the economy.
- To address these concerns, the National Health Security Office plans to prioritize addressing nutrition-related NCDs by allocating over 52% of its budget in the fiscal year 2024.
- The ministry encourages Thais to reduce their consumption of processed foods with high levels of salt, sugar, and fat, and to increase their intake of fruits and vegetables for better fitness-and-exercise and overall health.
- Private healthcare providers are also supporting preventive healthcare approaches, utilizing advanced technology to promote wellness and shift the focus from treatment to prevention, in line with prime ministerial initiatives and multi-health promoting programs.
