Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health reveals Thai children are 1 in 3 overweight and obese in ASEAN. The World Obesity Federation predicts that by 2012, 2035, the population under 20 years of age will have an average increase in 'obesity' of 6.2 percent per year.

This is information from the Department of Health. From the surveillance of the onset of obesity and 'obesity' in children of the Ministry of Public Health (Health Data Center) as of February 16, 2023, it was found that 9.13 percent of children aged 0 - 5 years were beginning to be overweight and 'obese', school children aged 6 - 14 years were beginning to be overweight and obese, 13.4 percent, and adolescents 15 - 18 years were beginning to be overweight and 'obese' 13.2 percent.

Behavior during school break that affect health

During school holidays, children's lifestyle habits often change. less body movement Most of them spend their free time watching television. play computer games and using social media, watching clips, listening to music online

From a survey of Thai children aged 12 years by the Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health in 2017, it was found that

• 50% of Thai children drink sugary drinks 1-3 days a week.
• 1 in 3 Thai children eat snacks every day.

From a survey of parents of children aged 3 - 5 years by the Institute for Population and Social Research. Mahidol University in 2020 found that

• Parents 46.3%to their children You can drink soft drinks.
• Parents 57.9%to their children You can eat bags of snacks.

Moreover, seeing food and drink advertisements It can stimulate children to want to buy and consume more food. until receiving more energy than necessary

What's bad about a fat child?

Children who are overweight and obesity are often stigmatized (Weight Stigma), causing stress and shame. Lack of confidence in learning and doing activities It affects the body, mind, society, and consciousness problems. Children who are overweight and obese are likely to be obese when they grow up to be adults. Risk of chronic non-communicable diseases (Non-communicable diseases, NCDs) include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure. Heart and blood vessel disease, cancer, etc.

Advice for parents

Parents should pay attention to the health of their children. Promote healthy behavior Eat nutritious food. Promote physical activity to prevent obesity. There are various methods as follows:

• Encourage children to run around and exercise, such as cycling, jumping rope, and doing housework.
• Do activities together as a family to reduce time spent online.
• Prepare a variety of foods from all 5 food groups. Reduce eating sweet, fatty, salty foods. Avoid processed meats such as sausages, Chinese sausages, meatballs, and ready-to-eat frozen foods.
• Control your intake of crunchy snacks, sweetened drinks, soft drinks, and bubble tea. Prepare plain milk and fruit in the refrigerator instead.
• Cultivate the habit of eating vegetables and fruits. And drink enough clean water, 6 - 8 glasses, every day.
• Teach how to read nutrition labels or health choice symbols on packaging. Make it easier for children to choose healthy snacks.
• Avoid feeding children large meals or buying snacks in oversized packages. Because the size consumed plays a very important role in the increase in body weight.
• Encourage children to go to bed and wake up at regular times. and get enough sleep 9 - 11 hours a day

With best wishes fromBDMS Wellness Clinic

LINE: @bdmswellnessclinic or https://lin.ee/Z4So1yQ

Reference source

• World Obesity Federation, World Obesity Atlas 2023. https://data.worldobesity.org/publications/?cat=19
• Department of Health. Department of Health reveals that Thai children are obese. Open healthy food Supplementary exercise for prevention [online]. 2023, source : https://multimedia.anamai.moph.go.th/news/news0633-2/ [12 April 2023]
• Bureau of Dental Public Health, Department of Health. Report on the results of the 8th National Oral Health Survey, Thailand 2017. Bangkok: Sam Charoen Phanit; 2018.
• Saranya Sucharitphong et al. Project to analyze individual and environmental factors affecting overweight and obesity in Thai children and have the potential to be used in government policymaking. Nakhon Pathom: Institute for Population and Social Research Mahidol University; 2020.