A recent health survey reveals that Thai children are experiencing overweight conditions mainly due to their diet, and experts warn that without urgent behavior changes, long-term dangers may arise.
The 7th National Health Examination Survey (2024-2025), conducted by Ramathibodi Hospital Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University, and a network of hospitals nationwide, reflects the overall situation where Thai children face multiple health and social risks. One major concern is nutritional problems, with many children experiencing both overnutrition (overweight) and undernutrition (nutrient deficiencies).
The statistics are as follows:
Among children aged 1-5 years, 8.1% are beginning to be overweight, and 7.2% are classified as overweight.
For ages 6-11 years, 5.7% are beginning to be overweight, and 5.5% are overweight.
Among those aged 12-14 years, 8.7% are beginning to be overweight, and 7.5% are overweight.
Associate Professor Dr. Waraporn Sathiennopakao, a nutrition expert from the Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, stated that the survey found Thai children consume high proportions of processed and ultra-processed foods that increase the risk of NCDs, including foods high in fat, sodium, starch, and sugar.
Foods regularly consumed by children aged 2-14 include:
Crispy snacks are the most popular, with nearly 40% of children eating them daily or almost daily, representing the highest proportion of food consumption in Northern, Central, Northeastern regions, and Bangkok.
Next are sweetened milk, soda, sweetened drinks, fried meatballs, fried sausages, drinkable yogurt, ice cream, instant noodles, candies, and chocolate. Eating habits vary across regions.
In the Northeast, over half of children eat crispy snacks daily, and one in three drinks soda every day.
In the Central region, one in three children drinks soda daily.
The South has the lowest daily consumption of plain milk, with only 24.5% drinking it every day.
Additionally, as children grow older, their milk consumption declines: 57.2% of children aged 2-5 drink milk daily, compared to only 22.8% of those aged 12-14.
Eating behaviors leading to obesity and NCD crisis
Eating habits can have long-term negative health effects, such as obesity and NCDs, which are behavior-related diseases. Statistics show obesity increases with age: 11% in young children (1-5 years) and rising to 27.4% in school-aged children (6-14 years). Overweight children face three times higher risk of high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, and diabetes compared to children with normal weight.
Therefore, establishing good nutritional foundations from early childhood is easier and more sustainable than trying to fix health problems later when it may be too late.