Is Obesity a Very Serious Problem?

[Airalee]

It’s not just the visually obese/overweight that will cause a strain on the healthcare system but the high number of TOFIs (Thin outside, fat inside) that are hidden ticking time bombs.

 

Thais need more protein and fewer fast carbs in general.  
 

Plus more exercise.  

 

How many Thais won’t even walk anywhere let alone do actual exercise.

[RSD1]

1 minute ago, Airalee said:

It’s not just the visually obese/overweight that will cause a strain on the healthcare system but the high number of TOFIs (Thin outside, fat inside) that are hidden ticking time bombs.

You're right, because of the high carb diet, a lot of them have very high triglyceride levels, which can lead to fatty liver disease. 

[scubascuba3]

15 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

The big portion of 'white' rice will not help keep slim or be very nutritious, but hey, they've been eating it for centuries.

Clearly the white rice has helped her stay slim and healthy for a 75+ year old, carb phobics tend to be fat

[OneMoreFarang]

28 minutes ago, RSD1 said:

 

Yes, we can sit around and complain about the aesthetics of obesity or that it's one person's own choice what they want to do with themselves. But it's so much more than that. It's turning into a large Public Health crisis that I think, 10 years from now, the government will be struggling to deal with. It's gonna put a lot of extra unnecessary financial strain on the healthcare system. Obesity levels in Thailand has far surpassed Western countries now. Statistically, obesity in the UK is actually also relatively fairly low.

 

I am a little surprised about your numbers. They seem high to me. But then, I see only a small part of Thailand.

I think a big problem with obesity is that many people, including myself, don't feel it is a big problem. I.e. if I would have regularly headache, then I would sure look what might cause them and try to make the situation better. Same with many other illnesses.

But too much weight? Yeah, maybe I should do something, but maybe not today...

There is no easy way to fix this problem. 

[CallumWK]

1 minute ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I think a big problem with obesity is that many people, including myself, don't feel it is a big problem.

 

You sure you still don't see the problem?

 

2 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

. Same with many other illnesses.

 

[Denim]

3 hours ago, FriscoKid said:

Yes, a very serious problem. But think about the upshot from this. So many Thai women have bigger teets now. More to squeeeeeze!

 

Maybe ,  but our hands havn't grown correspondingly.

[RSD1]

1 minute ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

I am a little surprised about your numbers. They seem high to me. But then, I see only a small part of Thailand.

I think a big problem with obesity is that many people, including myself, don't feel it is a big problem. I.e. if I would have regularly headache, then I would sure look what might cause them and try to make the situation better. Same with many other illnesses.

But too much weight? Yeah, maybe I should do something, but maybe not today...

There is no easy way to fix this problem. 

There is a really easy way to lose weight without really going on a diet. Just figure out the two most calorically dense items in your diet and cut them out. For example, if you eat 3 to 4 egg yolks a day and a few handfuls of nuts per day, just cut that out. That alone would probably drop 500-700 calories from your diet a day. After about 10 days, your body will start noticing the change and burning up more calories from storage. And you're probably going to start losing about a kilo a week. Alcohol is another very highly calorically dense food item. This is just an example because I don't know what you eat. But if you can identify the highest calorie items and replace them with lower calorie items, then you wouldn't even feel like you're on a diet and you would probably just start losing weight slowly but consistently. 

[scubascuba3]

5 minutes ago, RSD1 said:

There is a really easy way to lose weight without really going on a diet. Just figure out the two most calorically dense items in your diet and cut them out. For example, if you eat 3 to 4 egg yolks a day and a few handfuls of nuts per day, just cut that out. That alone would probably drop 500-700 calories from your diet a day. After about 10 days, your body will start noticing the change and burning up more calories from storage. And you're probably going to start losing about a kilo a week. Alcohol is another very highly calorically dense food item. This is just an example because I don't know what you eat. But if you can identify the highest calorie items and replace them with lower calorie items, then you wouldn't even feel like you're on a diet and you would probably just start losing weight slowly but consistently. 

I'd say look for the things like pastries, doughnuts, cakes, chocolate, ice cream, deep fried whatever, cut those out or once a week or month and people will lose weight guaranteed 

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, RSD1 said:

If they ate more Western food, they might be healthier and less overweight actually. It's all the rice and noodles and the sugar in the beverages that are all very calorically dense. There is also a lot of palm oil in the local cooking, which is also very calorically dense as well. Anything with coconut in it again is also calorically dense. And all those Thai deep-fried snacks like bananas and other types of fritters with corn and other stuff. Again, lots of calories. 

 A lot of village rice is windfall that the machines can't reach. The women have a choice, harvest for free, or add it to the machine cropping for 200 baht/day. Rice is grown twice a year in the region.

 

Most of the men drink Lao Khao, which is zero carbs.

 

It's also a question of quantity, meals are not big. Protein is fish, frogs, chicken, eggs, and snakes. White grubs are a real delicacy. Pork is for special occasions.

 

IMO the obesity figures you are quoting are a result of biased sampling, and not representative. When a villager is earning 2000-3000 baht per month, how much processed food do you think they can afford?

[RSD1]

12 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

 A lot of village rice is windfall that the machines can't reach. The women have a choice, harvest for free, or add it to the machine cropping for 200 baht/day. Rice is grown twice a year in the region.

 

Most of the men drink Lao Khao, which is zero carbs.

 

It's also a question of quantity, meals are not big. Protein is fish, frogs, chicken, eggs, and snakes. White grubs are a real delicacy. Pork is for special occasions.

 

IMO the obesity figures you are quoting are a result of biased sampling, and not representative. When a villager is earning 2000-3000 baht per month, how much processed food do you think they can afford?

Yes, people like that most likely won’t be overweight. And it’s much less likely that the old villagers who’ve been eating that same way for decades won’t be getting too overweight either. 
 

The figures also don’t show that everybody in the country is obese. 50% are not. So those you mention fall into that other 50% who aren’t overweight. 
 

You need to go into any of the densely populated city centers in Thailand and look around. It’s pretty starkly obvious. Khon Kaen, Korat, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, etc, it’s unmistakable. 

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, RSD1 said:

It just depends on the number of calories in and calories out. Some people can eat a large portion of white rice and not put on weight if they're extremely active. It doesn't make the rice healthy, or nutritious, but it may not make them fat if they have a high metabolism and do enough to burn it off. 

It also depends on what form the rice is in. Brown ( unpolished ) rice is much higher in fibre, vitamins, and minerals.

 

Fibre assists in attaining a full feeling faster than white rice.

[Airalee]

52 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

You sure you still don't see the problem?

 

 

It’s not a problem until it is….and then it’s much harder to get under control

[RSD1]

20 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Most of the men drink Lao Khao, which is zero carbs.

 

For a standard shot (1.5 oz or 44 ml), Lao Khao can contain approximately 97-140 calories, similar to vodka or other spirits. Five shots of that per day adds up too.

[RSD1]

3 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

It also depends on what form the rice is in. Brown ( unpolished ) rice is much higher in fibre, vitamins, and minerals.

 

Fibre assists in attaining a full feeling faster than white rice.

The white rice, brown rice thing makes very little difference actually in terms of calories or fat storage. 

[Airalee]

56 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I think a big problem with obesity is that many people, including myself, don't feel it is a big problem.

Didn’t you already say you have type 2 diabetes and are taking insulin?

 

sounds like it’s already a problem.

[sidjameson]

Attractive girls did no exercise when I was first in Asia 30 years ago. They also ate often and a lot.

30 years ago their food was real, now it's as ultra processed as western food.

[KannikaP]

2 hours ago, RSD1 said:

It just depends on the number of calories in and calories out. Some people can eat a large portion of white rice and not put on weight if they're extremely active. It doesn't make the rice healthy, or nutritious, but it may not make them fat if they have a high metabolism and do enough to burn it off. 

an old lady 75+, slim, looked healthy, was about to eat her lunch, big portion of rice.

I doubt whether she will be running a few km to work off the calories !   555

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, Airalee said:

Didn’t you already say you have type 2 diabetes and are taking insulin?

 

sounds like it’s already a problem.

I have diabetes, I take tablets, and it is under control.

 

For me, and I guess for many others, nothing is really urgent until it is urgent.

Let's say I would feel really bad, and the doctor would tell me that if I go on like this, then I would certainly die within a year. I guess that would wake me up.

But as long as the doctor tells me that I should exercise and I should watch my diet, and if I don't do that then probably, I won't get 100 years old, then that is not so much an emergency.

 

I guess another point is, that know enough people who died living healthy. So, the argument that I should live healthy to live long is simply incorrect.

 

[Airalee]

7 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I have diabetes, I take tablets, and it is under control.

 

For me, and I guess for many others, nothing is really urgent until it is urgent.

Let's say I would feel really bad, and the doctor would tell me that if I go on like this, then I would certainly die within a year. I guess that would wake me up.

But as long as the doctor tells me that I should exercise and I should watch my diet, and if I don't do that then probably, I won't get 100 years old, then that is not so much an emergency.

 

I guess another point is, that know enough people who died living healthy. So, the argument that I should live healthy to live long is simply incorrect.

 

I suspect that the last number of years before death would be far more uncomfortable and inconvenient.

 

Maybe one would only live to 90 instead of 100….but perhaps blind and with an amputated foot?

 

For me, it’s not so much about longevity, but rather hopefully being mobile and not in a lot of pain for the potential long dragged out later years in life.  I’d rather die young and healthy (and quickly) myself.

[OneMoreFarang]

5 minutes ago, Airalee said:

I suspect that the last number of years before death would be far more uncomfortable and inconvenient.

 

Maybe one would only live to 90 instead of 100….but perhaps blind and with an amputated foot?

 

For me, it’s not so much about longevity, but rather hopefully being mobile and not in a lot of pain for the potential long dragged out later years in life.  I’d rather die young and healthy (and quickly) myself.

But that's the point. There are lots of people who lived unhealthy and long. And others died healthy early. There is a lot more to it than healthy living.

 

 

[JGon]

The absolute easiest way for me to lose weight is to cut all carbs out. Once I go over 90kg I cut out all carbs and within 1 month and back at 80kg... (I'm 1.85M tall) While I'm eating nothing but beef and eggs with some lettuce I feel amazing. Never hungry, any inflammation goes away and the blood pressure goes down to 110/65... even the six pack shows up... 

 

But it's very hard to keep a diet like that here in Thailand. In the US I had it for years... feeling incredible. But this country LOVES sugar. You can find a 7-11 in every corner (One of the main culprits or their declining health).

 

[atpeace]

7 hours ago, RSD1 said:

When I first came to Thailand decades ago, I hardly ever saw anyone overweight in the hub of great food and habitual snackers. But over time, that has changed considerably.

 

The WHO, in 2011, published information about obesity by country in Southeast Asia, showing that 32.2% of the Thai population was already overweight (see the info graphic on the link below).

 

Now, according to a more recent study (on the same link below), Thailand’s obesity rate has already gotten much worse. A 2022 study revealed that the prevalence of overweight Thais and Thai obesity has reached 47.8%, up from 34.7% in 2016.

 

To me, those numbers are really staggering. It seems Thailand now has a major public health problem on its hands (in my non-expert opinion). Based on the climb from 32.2% in 2011 to 47.8% in 2022, it means obesity has risen at an average of about 3.66% per year over that 11-year period.

 

If this average rate continues then it suggests that the percentage of people who are now overweight or obese in Thailand in 2024 has already surpassed 50%, reaching a shocking 51.36%. Assuming this trend continues then by 2030 around 62.88% of the Thai population could be overweight or obese, assuming these calculations are correct and that the rate of annual increase in obesity continues at the same pace.

 

To me, this is disastrous. And if the rise continues, more and more people will suffer from diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease in Thailand than ever before. 

 

Meanwhile, there were hardly any gyms at all in Bangkok when I first came here and now they're everywhere, many are also open 24 hours. So a lot more people are exercising, at least a little bit anyway when they go to these places, but obviously it's not helping them very much. It's the worsening diet and the massive caloric surplus that so many are consuming that is causing this rapid increase in obesity.

 

Not to mention, the aesthetic appeal of the locals is declining rapidly too. I rarely see women with attractive faces and figures anymore, largely due to this growing obesity problem. It’s really saddening.

 

And it’s not just Thailand. This same trend is happening throughout Southeast Asia. Malaysia is in an even worse situation. Singapore is struggling too, and the Philippines isn’t far behind. I wonder where this is all leading and if it will greatly accelerate the mortality rate in Thailand over the next decade.
 

To me it would seem that Thailand is losing its edge as a place known for beautiful women in Southeast Asia too. For me personally, I find that I rarely see Thai women that even cause me to turn my head anymore.

 

https://www.thailand-business-news.com/asean/49065-thailand-ranks-second-asean-prevalence-obesity-mcot-net

Locking people down for two years has consequences.  In 2019 the parks around here were full with kids playing futbol but today most are empty.  As for the gyms, they really don't help much but are better than nothing.  I love gyms but realize that working out in the end might allow me to eat an extra cookie or two.  Just look at the other people at the gym and it is obvious it isn't making them any more healthy.

 

It is 90% diet for most unless they are truly putting in 5+ hours of cardio a week.  It is simple math.  Running a kilometer burns about an extra 55 calories vs sitting on your butt.  Run 70k a week and you might be able to burn enough to eat an extra big meal or two at KFC a week.

 

People simply have to eat less.  People 100 years ago ate appropriately and obesity was almost non-existent.  

[atpeace]

4 hours ago, Lacessit said:

I really have to question what cohort of the Thai population was sampled to achieve an obesity rate of 47.8%. That's much higher than America, the home of lardasses.

 

In my GF's village, most of the male Thais are skinny as rakes. They work hard, and can't afford Western food.

Combination of obese and overweight is 48%.  Think that is what he is stating.  Sounds about right.

[atpeace]

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

 

But too much weight? Yeah, maybe I should do something, but maybe not today...

There is no easy way to fix this problem. 

^^^ this is why people are fat.  They like the process of getting fat and have a great dislike for the pain and persistence losing it entails.  So they just gradually get fatter. 

 

To each his own and if someone doesn't value fitness or see any real value, up to them.  Many of my friend seem to not care much.  I wonder if the unhealthy often reflect on what it would be like to be healthy and come to the conclusion being unhealthy is a net positive.

[Lacessit]

19 minutes ago, atpeace said:

Combination of obese and overweight is 48%.  Think that is what he is stating.  Sounds about right.

You are right, the OP did state "overweight and obese".

 

If the obesity rate is 36% in America, it makes me wonder what the combined data would be.

 

The two attributes are measured by BMI. It can be somewhat misleading.

 

Elite midfielders in Australian Rules football would fail the BMI test, due to their high muscle mass. So would gorillas.

[RSD1]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I have diabetes, I take tablets, and it is under control.

 

For me, and I guess for many others, nothing is really urgent until it is urgent.

Let's say I would feel really bad, and the doctor would tell me that if I go on like this, then I would certainly die within a year. I guess that would wake me up.

But as long as the doctor tells me that I should exercise and I should watch my diet, and if I don't do that then probably, I won't get 100 years old, then that is not so much an emergency.

 

I guess another point is, that know enough people who died living healthy. So, the argument that I should live healthy to live long is simply incorrect.

 

I don't mean to sound patronizing, but all the stuff you said about it not being so necessary to lose weight, and to try and get in better health in order to live a long life are the types of anecdotal comments you hear from people when they don't want to deal with taking the necessary responsibility needed to tackle chronic health issues. 
 

I used to know a woman who smoked heavily and unfortunately she died not too long ago from emphysema, but she always used to compare herself to people much older than her who smoked a lot too and would say that they are still alive and so the risks of smoking can't be that serious. Denial. But it was too late when she realized that.
 

There is also that old joke about you go to the doctor and he tells you that you have six months to live and then you pay him $1000 and he gives you another six months. 
 

But more back on point, being overweight is always unhealthy. It puts unnecessary strain on the internal organs, particularly the heart, it often increases fat around your liver and kidneys which hinders their functionality, and it greatly increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. It also can cause inflammation of the arteries, which isn't good, and it can lead to joint problems.
 

Also, if you already have type two diabetes, and you're overweight, the chances of you eventually needing regular insulin injections and possibly developing other symptoms related to diabetes like blindness increases, considerably. So just because your doctor doesn't tell you to lose weight when you're overweight doesn't mean that it's an OK thing. 
 

You can lose weight. Very many people do. It's definitely not an impossibility. I also have a friend in Thailand who started taking some of those new weight loss drugs recently, it's not that expensive, and he's losing weight steadily. He's also somebody that's been overweight for most of his life. And now that he's in his late 50s, it's really good that he's dropping the weight before he starts developing chronic diseases. And his weight is coming off at healthy level of about 1 kg a week. 
 

It wouldn't be a bad idea to take this situation a bit more seriously. Having diabetes puts you in a much higher mortality risk category if you're overweight. I'm sure others here will agree with what I am saying here even if it's not what you want to hear.

[jas007]

8 hours ago, RSD1 said:

When I first came to Thailand decades ago, I hardly ever saw anyone overweight in the hub of great food and habitual snackers. But over time, that has changed considerably.

 

The WHO, in 2011, published information about obesity by country in Southeast Asia, showing that 32.2% of the Thai population was already overweight (see the info graphic on the link below).

 

Now, according to a more recent study (on the same link below), Thailand’s obesity rate has already gotten much worse. A 2022 study revealed that the prevalence of overweight Thais and Thai obesity has reached 47.8%, up from 34.7% in 2016.

 

To me, those numbers are really staggering. It seems Thailand now has a major public health problem on its hands (in my non-expert opinion). Based on the climb from 32.2% in 2011 to 47.8% in 2022, it means obesity has risen at an average of about 3.66% per year over that 11-year period.

 

If this average rate continues then it suggests that the percentage of people who are now overweight or obese in Thailand in 2024 has already surpassed 50%, reaching a shocking 51.36%. Assuming this trend continues then by 2030 around 62.88% of the Thai population could be overweight or obese, assuming these calculations are correct and that the rate of annual increase in obesity continues at the same pace.

 

To me, this is disastrous. And if the rise continues, more and more people will suffer from diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease in Thailand than ever before. 

 

Meanwhile, there were hardly any gyms at all in Bangkok when I first came here and now they're everywhere, many are also open 24 hours. So a lot more people are exercising, at least a little bit anyway when they go to these places, but obviously it's not helping them very much. It's the worsening diet and the massive caloric surplus that so many are consuming that is causing this rapid increase in obesity.

 

Not to mention, the aesthetic appeal of the locals is declining rapidly too. I rarely see women with attractive faces and figures anymore, largely due to this growing obesity problem. It’s really saddening.

 

And it’s not just Thailand. This same trend is happening throughout Southeast Asia. Malaysia is in an even worse situation. Singapore is struggling too, and the Philippines isn’t far behind. I wonder where this is all leading and if it will greatly accelerate the mortality rate in Thailand over the next decade.
 

To me it would seem that Thailand is losing its edge as a place known for beautiful women in Southeast Asia too. For me personally, I find that I rarely see Thai women that even cause me to turn my head anymore.

 

https://www.thailand-business-news.com/asean/49065-thailand-ranks-second-asean-prevalence-obesity-mcot-net

It's not just Thailand.  It's happening all over the developed world.  Have you seen the beach pictures of the USA in the 70s with not a fat person in sight?  For contrast they'l post a picture of people at the beach in 2024.  The difference is astounding. Of course, it's the food industry and the drug industry.  They make money from fat, unhealthy people. 

[Lacessit]

35 minutes ago, atpeace said:

Locking people down for two years has consequences.  In 2019 the parks around here were full with kids playing futbol but today most are empty.  As for the gyms, they really don't help much but are better than nothing.  I love gyms but realize that working out in the end might allow me to eat an extra cookie or two.  Just look at the other people at the gym and it is obvious it isn't making them any more healthy.

 

It is 90% diet for most unless they are truly putting in 5+ hours of cardio a week.  It is simple math.  Running a kilometer burns about an extra 55 calories vs sitting on your butt.  Run 70k a week and you might be able to burn enough to eat an extra big meal or two at KFC a week.

 

People simply have to eat less.  People 100 years ago ate appropriately and obesity was almost non-existent.  

The other way is eating the right foods. We eat far too much carbohydrate and sugar, it is everywhere in Thailand.

 

About 3 years ago, I resolved to lose weight. Low carb vegetables, no alcohol, as much protein and cheese as I wanted.

 

Carbs are what the body burns to produce energy. If the body does not get enough carbs, it turns to fat for its energy source.

 

I went from 93 kg to 78 kg on that diet. I have backslid a bit, now 81 kg. My waist went from 41 inches to 38.

 

 

[RSD1]

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

I went from 93 kg to 78 kg on that diet. I have backslid a bit, now 81 kg. My waist went from 41 inches to 38.

 

Well done. A great success story. 👍🏼

[atpeace]

3 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

You are right, the OP did state "overweight and obese".

 

If the obesity rate is 36% in America, it makes me wonder what the combined data would be.

 

The two attributes are measured by BMI. It can be somewhat misleading.

 

Elite midfielders in Australian Rules football would fail the BMI test, due to their high muscle mass. So would gorillas.

Agreed but BMI is a good measurement to measure a population.  I'm at about 6% bodyfat and nearly overweight using BMI.   If a person wants to be healthy simply take control of their health and stop relying on doctors, fad diets...  Being healthy, minus the rare exceptions, isn't complicated.