PUBLISHED: 4 May 2025 at 17: 02
The government’s dietary habits have raised questions about the country’s health, highlighting the danger of Thais contracting non-communicable diseases (NCDs ) as a result of excessive consumption of sweet, salty, and fatty foods.
A global survey in February among 52, 000 individuals revealed disturbing trends in Thai eating behavior, according to Dr. Panuwat Panket, director-general of the Public Health Ministry’s DHPS. He said that Thailand frequently goes over the proposed intakes of sugar, fat, and calcium.
One in five people respond to special foods or beverages three or more times per month, including sugary beverages, iced coffee, and cold coffee. About 50 % of people at least three times per week consume salty foods like som tam ( papaya salad ), yam ( spicy salads ), and larb ( spicy minced meat salad ), and nearly 46 % regularly eat high-fat foods, including fried foods, stir-fries, and fast food.  ,
He said,” These dietary habits are linked to an increased risk of NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory disorders, diabetes, and liver disorders.”
Dr. Adisorn Vatthanasak, DHSS assistant director-general, cited a lack of health information among Thais, especially regarding the risks linked to high sodium consumption.
Just 15 % of respondents said they had a good understanding of how to consume enough water, which is significantly lower than how to recognize the risks of excessive sugar and fat.  ,
Additionally, “acquire 60 % admitted sense reticent about requesting less seasoning when dining out, even when they were informed the food may be harmful to their health,” he said.
NCDs are one of the nation’s most pressing health and financial issues, according to Somsak Thepsutin, the minister of health.
More than 33 million Thai people are currently living with NCDs, with 400, 000 deaths and over 2 million new cases being identified annually.
According to Mr. Somsak,” the effect is not only on the open heath but also on the economy.” We lose more than 1 trillion baht every as a result of costs related to NCDs, which accounts for roughly 9.7 % of our GDP.
The National Health Security Office allocated more than 52 % of its 152.7 billion baht funds for the treatment of NCDs only in fiscal year 2024. These illnesses can be generally avoided, but they continue to put an unnecessary strain on people, communities, and the healthcare system, according to Mr. Somsak.
He claimed that long-term subjection to PM2.5 air pollution, as well as poor diet, smoking, alcohol use, and physical inactivity are the main causes of NCDs. He exhorted people to adopt healthier eating habits, including reducing their intake of processed foods high in sugar, honey, and large and increasing their intake of fruits and vegetables.