More than 40% of employed individuals in Thailand are grappling with excess weight, putting them at risk of developing various health conditions
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Loading... - Kwanjai Anant
- 17 May 2023
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A staggering 42.4% of working Thais aged 15 and above fall into the overweight category, primarily due to their lifestyle choices, including frequent consumption of fast food, inadequate physical activity, and socializing in eateries.
Dr. Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai, the director-general of the Health Department, highlights the concerning results obtained from a survey conducted between 2019 and 2020 among the working population in Thailand. The average body mass index (BMI) for males stands at 24.2, while females have an average BMI of 25.2, both of which exceed the normal range.
Furthermore, the findings reveal that 37.8% of working Thai males and 46.4% of working Thai females are categorized as overweight. Among them, 27.7% of males and 50.4% of females have excess belly fat.
Comparing these results with previous findings, the survey shows a rise in the percentage of Thais who consume inadequate amounts of fruits and vegetables, reaching 78.8% compared to the previous figure of 74.1%.
Dr. Suwanchai highlights that one of the contributing factors to obesity among employed Thais is their extensive office hours, which often lead them to rely on unhealthy fast food options.
While socializing in eateries can alleviate stress, it also increases the likelihood of weight gain and the development of non-communicable diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, as well as heart and kidney diseases.
To counteract these concerns, Dr. Suwanchai recommends that working individuals engage in regular exercise, dedicating an average of 30 minutes per day or 150 minutes per week to activities such as jogging, fast walking, cycling, aerobics, or yoga, in line with the guidelines provided by the World Health Organization.
Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining a sufficient sleep duration of 7 to 9 hours per night and regularly monitoring body weight and waist size.
