The Department of Health is concerned! Obese Thai children are at risk of NCDs Accelerate plans to prevent and control the problem.

The Department of Health is concerned about obese Thai children due to the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases or NCDs in children and adults. Accelerate the preparation of plans to prevent and control the problems of childhood obesity. To end the childhood obesity crisis Help Thai children have a strong body and mind. Grow into a healthy future adult.

On October 30, 2024 Dr. Amporn Benjaphonpitak Director General of the Department of Health Revealed later chaired the workshop “Creating a plan to prevent and control the problems of childhood obesity” at the Best Western Plus Vanda Grand Hotel, Department Nonthaburi, Childhood obesity is a major public health problem both nationally and globally. It affects health, mind, emotions, society and economy Preventing and controlling childhood obesity is an important issue for the Ministry of Public Health. and all departments must accelerate action “Raising Thai public health level Good health at all ages Thai Health Economy is stable” with important policies including the policy to keep Thai people away from diseases and health risks. By promoting health in all aspects to reduce rates of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) before entering the treatment system. This is in line with the prevention and control of childhood obesity problems.

“The Department of Health has an important policy that is similar to the policy of the Ministry of Public Health, that is the policy to promote public health and reduce NCDs, that is to prevent and control the problem of childhood obesity. It plays an important role in reducing the incidence of NCDs in childhood and adulthood. to guide and integrate work in effectively preventing and solving the problem of childhood obesity in Thailand. The Department of Health has therefore collaborated with government agencies. and associated network partners Create a plan to prevent and control the problems of childhood obesity. To clearly set the direction for driving work together in each department. Because the impact of obesity on children’s health is something that needs to be prevented and corrected urgently. To make children have a strong body and mind Grow into a healthy adult in the future.” Amporn Dr say

side Dr. Pongphon Worapani, Deputy Director General of the Department of Health added Obesity is a major problem of all ages. Childhood is an important time to prevent and control the problems of obesity. which the Ministry of Public Health and network partners need to speed up As a result of the current situation, Thailand has the third highest number of obese children among ASEAN countries. After Malaysia and Brunei.

According to predictions from the World Obesity Federation, by 2030 up to 1 in 3 children worldwide will be obese, with children under the age of 20 overweight and obese as high as 30 percent. According to the Child Obesity Survey Report in Thailand between 2014 – 2024, it was found that the trend of obese children is increasing every year. It was found that obesity among children aged 0 – 5 years increased from 3.6 percent to 8.84 percent, and an increase in school age children aged 6-14 years from 8.9 percent to 13.21 percent.

Over the past 3 years, it has been found that teenagers aged 15-18 years have started to become obese and their obesity has decreased slightly from 13.84 percent to 13.46 percent, but still more higher than the national target set, which does not exceed 11.5 percent. .

“In 2024, the latest situation in Thailand It was found that 546,434 school-aged children between the ages of 6-14 were becoming overweight and obese, and that 230,027 teenagers between the ages of 15-18 were becoming overweight and obese. It will affect the quality of life of Thai people in the future. The Department of Health has therefore collaborated with network partners to create a plan to promote policies to prevent and control childhood obesity problems. to achieve integration Coordinating cooperation between organizations under the Ministry of Public Health and other related organizations to prevent and control the problem of childhood obesity.” Dr. Pongphon said.