Is Obesity a Very Serious Problem?

[pgrahmm]

Oh thank heaven for 7/11.....

 

You can do a lot more health damage there for 50-100฿ than you can in any fast food place.....

Ample choices, a big selection, and drive/motorcy in & out quickly with no waiting.....

 

Thais used to eat grapes, oranges, apples, and fruit & healthy stuff for snacks.....

Now, it's fast, prepackaged garbage.....

Proving, we/they are what we/they eat.....

The "beauty" landscape has  shifted accordingly, (and quickly) - not for the better.....

[jas007]

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

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.

 

 

Yep.  It's a Iong story, but I thought I had a diabetes problem, so I want on a carnivore diet.  I went from around 81  kilos down to 69 kilos, whatever that is in pounds.  I'm 5'10" or 5'11".  Anyway, if you cut out the carbs, your body will eventually turn to stored fat.  You can burn through that in no time. 

[atpeace]

5 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

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.

 

 

Impressive! Did you keep the weight off.  Most don't but have a feeling you did.

 

I eat a ton of carbs and stay very fit.  I get what your saying though and carbs are terrible if not needed.  I decided about 3 months ago to adjust my carb intake.  I was starting  get persistent joint pain and thought the type of carbs I was consuming( sugar cereals and other crap) was the issue.  Now eat more fruit and healthy carbs and the joint pains have disappeared.  

[Lacessit]

1 minute ago, atpeace said:

Impressive! Did you keep the weight off.  Most don't but have a feeling you did.

 

I eat a ton of carbs and stay very fit.  I get what your saying though and carbs are terrible if not needed.  I decided about 3 months ago to adjust my carb intake.  I was starting  get persistent joint pain and thought the type of carbs I was consuming( sugar cereals and other crap) was the issue.  Now eat more fruit and healthy carbs and the joint pains have disappeared.  

I don't know if you follow a Dr Ken Berry on YouTube, he says sugar is inflammatory.

 

Strawberries, blueberries ( especially ) and raspberries are all good fruits. Apples are halfway, bananas and mangoes are high in sucrose and fructose.

[RSD1]

6 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Strawberries, blueberries ( especially ) and raspberries are all good fruits. Apples are halfway, bananas and mangoes are high in sucrose and fructose.

The first three that you mentioned are generally imported and higher priced in Thailand although you can get big bags of frozen ones in Makro from China that aren't expensive, but they don't taste great either. 
 

In Thailand, Pomelo, Guava, Rose Apples, Green Mango and a few others are very low in sugar and are all local fruits and easy to find. Watermelon is actually high glycemic, but so much of it is water that it's hard to consume too much of it. So it's another good one.

[atpeace]

2 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I don't know if you follow a Dr Ken Berry on YouTube, he says sugar is inflammatory.

 

Strawberries, blueberries ( especially ) and raspberries are all good fruits. Apples are halfway, bananas and mangoes are high in sucrose and fructose.

No don't listen to Berry but been listening to many others over the years.  I knew my sugar intake was most likely  causing at least some of the inflammation but it was very hard for me to move past the addiction.  I seemed to reach a point where I wasn't exercising enough to eliminate the sugars and over time of exercising less than prior years the inflammation worsened.  

[RSD1]

28 minutes ago, jas007 said:

Yep.  It's a Iong story, but I thought I had a diabetes problem, so I want on a carnivore diet.  I went from around 81  kilos down to 69 kilos, whatever that is in pounds.  I'm 5'10" or 5'11".  Anyway, if you cut out the carbs, your body will eventually turn to stored fat.  You can burn through that in no time. 

I think the whole carbs are all bad thing is a big misnomer. Yes, too many simple carbs aren't good for other health reasons, but carbs in general, aren't the enemy for weight loss. 
 

A lot of people cut out carbs and then they end up dropping weight and they think it was because of the carbs in their diet.
 

But what happens is they cut out the carbs and they continue to eat the same amounts of the other foods and what they're actually doing is creating a caloric deficit and that's why they're losing weight.

 

If you did the opposite, you cut out all the fat from your diet, and the protein and you just ate complex carbs then you would likely lose weight too. Again, it comes down to how many calories you're taking in per day and you need to create a caloric deficit to lose weight.
 

But it doesn't matter where the calories are coming from in terms of weight loss. As long as you're not exceeding the amount of calories that puts you into a surplus then you should lose weight. You could even go on a low carb diet and end up gaining weight if you end up eating too much extra fat in place of those carbs.

[NorthernRyland]

38 minutes ago, RSD1 said:

I think the whole carbs are all bad thing is a big misnomer. Yes, too many simple carbs aren't good for other health reasons, but carbs in general, aren't the enemy for weight loss. 

It's so simple. Just eat 30% less than you ate before and weight goes down. No need to get fancy and complicate things.

[RSD1]

12 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

It's so simple. Just eat 30% less than you ate before and weight goes down. No need to get fancy and complicate things.

Yup. That works too. Though 30% may not be the magic number. You only need to create a 10% caloric deficit to start losing weight. So it depends how much you are over eating above your maintenance calorie level. 

[CallumWK]

28 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

It's so simple. Just eat 30% less than you ate before and weight goes down. No need to get fancy and complicate things.

 

Prepare your meals a usual, put it on your plate, then discard 30% of it in the rubbish bin. Eat the remaining part

[Walker88]

I've never understood fat. It takes a deliberate lack of effort and discipline to get bloated. Nobody goes to bed svelte and wakes up bloated. Why not nip it in the bud? Whatever the pleasure one gets from overeating, I would think that has to be "outweighed" by the general uncomfortable-ness of being bloated. I understand for some people, having diabetes, looking like sh!t, having joint issues, being out of breath, facing the distinct possibility of an early death or a miserable end of life with sores that won't heal or extremities amputated is less of an issue than foregoing an extra slice of cheesecake or a bag of chips, but I would guess everything would change when that first heart attack, stroke, knee replacement, or amputation intrudes into the lifestyle. It's then too late for "should have" or "shouldn't have".

 

I understand it might be tough to put down the fork or spoon. I also know firsthand that exercise is time consuming and can be painful. Doing both, however, pays enormous dividends. It feels soooooo good to be in shape. It doesn't look so bad, either. Despite the current woke attitude toward "fat shaming", a fat body is NOT beautiful. It even saves money to be in shape---if that is a concern---because one need not replace the clothes as the waist balloons.

 

I see many expats, and now plenty of Thais, who waddle down the street, occasionally with a grimace because the baggage they carry has put strain on the joints. Was unfettered gorging worth it? Was binge watching some TV show on Netflix preferable to hitting the gym and feeling full of energy? I guess for many people, that answer is "Yes". I think many pretend "It won't be me...I've seen fat people live to 90, blah blah blah". Yes, and one person wins the Megamillions jackpot. The odds do not favor a long and comfortable life if one lets himself go.

 

I'm over 6', weight about 185 lbs, and have a 30" waist. I do 2 hours a day, 6 days a week, in the gym, resistance training and cardio. I'm kind of ripped, and un-roided. I have no affection for confection, as I long ago stopped eating sweets and have no urge to consume them. I don't miss them. I do eat plenty of carbs, but I need the fuel.  Yes, it's a lot of work to stay in the shape I'm in, but it feels so good. I can run up the stairs to catch the BTS, can go shoot baskets for hours or get in pick-up games, have no aches or pains, haven't been sick in years, and can wear the same suits I bought back when working in a career requiring a suit. When I get into it with a girlfriend, it kind of gives a bit of an ego boost when she seems to enjoy what's in front of her. Of course I could still get cancer or get hit by a bus or slip in the shower, but I'm playing the odds. I eat plenty, but know when to stop. I aim for a caloric balance. Do that for a while and one's body knows what can be eaten and how much, so it becomes autonomous.

 

I see Thais giving it a shot at the gym, but I can look at someone new and quite accurately guess how long they will keep their membership. The fatties do not last long. They lack the discipline. They let it get too out of hand. If I go into 7-11, I also see what the average Thai is buying....sweet and highly processed. Given what my eyes see strolling around Bangkok, the obesity % quoted by posters here does seem a bit high, but give it time and undoubtedly Thais will "grow into" that number, because the trend is visually undeniable. I do still suffer whiplash turning to look at lovely women, but I think the numbers are decreasing as obesity increases. As for Western expats, I would guess the obesity % tops 70.

 

Fat IS my problem to some extent. I pay more for health insurance because the actuarial tables say I have a chance of bloating up and acquiring all the maladies that come with obesity. Healthcare costs, at least in the US, are also higher because not all fat people pay their treatment bills, so hospitals spread that loss over what healthy people pay.

 

So yes, obesity is a serious problem, albeit one easy to solve if only there is will.

[RSD1]

5 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

Prepare your meals a usual, put it on your plate, then discard 30% of it in the rubbish bin. Eat the remaining part

but what if you discard the salad and keep all the potatoes?

[CallumWK]

1 minute ago, RSD1 said:

but what if you discard the salad and keep all the potatoes?

 

Looks like you have too much time on your hands posting silly replies. Please don't tell me that was a serious question

[NorthernRyland]

13 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

Prepare your meals a usual, put it on your plate, then discard 30% of it in the rubbish bin. Eat the remaining part

there may be a better way but lets not overthink it.

[RSD1]

9 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

there may be a better way but lets not overthink it.

Yes, it would be unnecessary waste. Easier thing would be to just weigh your meals on a kitchen scale for a few days and see how much you're normally eating by weight. Then just put 20% less on your plate by weight going forward. And you should be removing equal amounts of each item. That should do it. 

[Airalee]

4 hours ago, Lacessit said:

I don't know if you follow a Dr Ken Berry on YouTube, he says sugar is inflammatory.

 

Strawberries, blueberries ( especially ) and raspberries are all good fruits. Apples are halfway, bananas and mangoes are high in sucrose and fructose.

Ken Berry is one of the better low carb/carnivore docs IMHO.  Very balanced.

 

Dr Eric Westman, the Duke University keto doctor is also good.

 

Dr Sten Eckberg too.

 

Dr Anthony Chaffee seems to have one of the largest followings but he seems to be a little to much of an extremist as are Dr. Shawn Baker and Dr Kiltz.

 

Carnivore definitely helped me clear up many issues but there are a few unanswered questions that I have.  The biggest question/concern is that of dehydration.  For me, when on the Lion Diet, I noticed that I would be so dry that my voice started to change.  Almost to the point of a dry raspiness.  It didn’t matter how much water I drank.  I also notice that same voice change in the extreme carnivore advocates such as Baker, Kiltz and Jordan Peterson when comparing their old videos to newer ones.

 

What carnivore did do for me was show just how strong my addiction to sugar is and when I tried reintroducing carbs into my diet, I was much more sensitive.  Even with small amounts.

 

I have been thinking that the best for me is to cycle in and out of it but when out of it, it is becomes easy to fall back into bad habits.  Trying to find that middle ground is definitely tough.

 

I can’t deny however that when eating zero carb, all my aches and pains went away (knees, toes, feet, lower back), my skin gets much better (psoriasis pretty much 100% clear when diligent), sinus issues go away, mood is much better (almost to the point of a blissful zen state), sleep better (waking up feeling energized after 5 hours and never feel the need for an afternoon nap), general energy levels are also much much higher than when eating carbs.

[newbee2022]

19 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

Thank you for this thread. Unfortunately obesity is not only seen in Asia but in our Western countries too. And look all these farangs here; hardly one in good shape.

[scubascuba3]

6 hours ago, Airalee said:

Dr Sten Eckberg too

 

 

Eric Berg is another one who is just a chiropractor 

[cdemundo]

17 hours ago, RSD1 said:

The few times a year that I ride the skytrain in Bangkok, I try and spend the time counting the number of locals that are overweight versus the number that are not overweight. I would say it is in the range of about 50%.
 

Sometimes what we consider overweight visually may also not be the true picture. Locals are small people to begin with and many of them are not very tall. So it's very easy for them to exceed a healthy BMI index without it being so obvious to the eye. 
 

Next time you are in a place in Thailand where there is a group of people for a sustained period of time, and they aren't coming or going, then try and do some counting yourself.

 

As the article says though, the problem is much higher in Bangkok than in the provinces. And Bangkok does account for around 15%-20% of the country's total population.

"The few times a year that I ride the skytrain in Bangkok, I try and spend the time counting the number of locals that are overweight versus the number that are not overweight. I would say it is in the range of about 50%."

 

I don't get it. 

What is the fascination with the weight problem of others?

I don't mean to single you out, every time there is thread about this many join in to bash fat people.

 

Live and let live.

I'm not mad at fat people.

Doesn't this fall under the category of MYOB?

Like the song says "If you mind your bizness you'll be happy all the time...",

courtesy Hank Williams.

 

 

 

 

[georgegeorgia]

50 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

"The few times a year that I ride the skytrain in Bangkok, I try and spend the time counting the number of locals that are overweight versus the number that are not overweight. I would say it is in the range of about 50%."

 

I don't get it. 

What is the fascination with the weight problem of others?

I don't mean to single you out, every time there is thread about this many join in to bash fat people.

 

Live and let live.

I'm not mad at fat people.

Doesn't this fall under the category of MYOB?

Like the song says "If you mind your bizness you'll be happy all the time...",

courtesy Hank Williams.

 

 

 

 

Maybe you could join RSD2 or whatever his ridiculous posting  name is , in watching fat people on a subway in your boring lives 

 

He certainly has a "fat fetish " , loves the old fatties ! 

Just don't bend over CMundo in front of him mate ,not with your big Fat Axx showing 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

12 hours ago, RSD1 said:

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.

 

Obviously, you are right. But with many things, it's a question of motivation. How much do we want to adjust our lives to live healthier and probably longer?

Another example: I ride motorcycle, and I don't own a car. Is it dangerous? Yes, Would it be less dangerous if I would use a car or train, etc. Yes. But I don't do that because a motorcycle is so convenient. 

And I drink beer, wine and whisky from time to time. Not a lot, but I guess not drinking alcohol would be healthier. Why don't I stop it? Because I like it.

It seems to me that some of those healthy this and healthy that people are often not happy. They have to run, they can't eat this and that. And some people stress themselves about those things. Is that good for the mental health? No.

It's up to our own priorities. 

 

[Lacessit]

7 hours ago, Airalee said:

Ken Berry is one of the better low carb/carnivore docs IMHO.  Very balanced.

 

Dr Eric Westman, the Duke University keto doctor is also good.

 

Dr Sten Eckberg too.

 

Dr Anthony Chaffee seems to have one of the largest followings but he seems to be a little to much of an extremist as are Dr. Shawn Baker and Dr Kiltz.

 

Carnivore definitely helped me clear up many issues but there are a few unanswered questions that I have.  The biggest question/concern is that of dehydration.  For me, when on the Lion Diet, I noticed that I would be so dry that my voice started to change.  Almost to the point of a dry raspiness.  It didn’t matter how much water I drank.  I also notice that same voice change in the extreme carnivore advocates such as Baker, Kiltz and Jordan Peterson when comparing their old videos to newer ones.

 

What carnivore did do for me was show just how strong my addiction to sugar is and when I tried reintroducing carbs into my diet, I was much more sensitive.  Even with small amounts.

 

I have been thinking that the best for me is to cycle in and out of it but when out of it, it is becomes easy to fall back into bad habits.  Trying to find that middle ground is definitely tough.

 

I can’t deny however that when eating zero carb, all my aches and pains went away (knees, toes, feet, lower back), my skin gets much better (psoriasis pretty much 100% clear when diligent), sinus issues go away, mood is much better (almost to the point of a blissful zen state), sleep better (waking up feeling energized after 5 hours and never feel the need for an afternoon nap), general energy levels are also much much higher than when eating carbs.

The diet I developed is not full-on keto. However, sugar and anything high carb went out the window. Noodles, pasta, potato, rice, carrots, bananas, mangos. No alcohol. Low carb vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and green beans stayed in. Once a week, I allowed myself a Magnum ice cream.

 

It's common sense a lower body weight places less stress on the heart and other organs.

 

eGFr is a measure of kidney function. About 50% of elderly people die of kidney failure.

 

After the diet, my eGFr reading improved by 20 points.

[thaibeachlovers]

19 hours ago, RSD1 said:

And even if the ones in the provinces have no access to Western food, there is plenty of high calorie junk and processed foods containing trans fats, and other calorically rich stuff that quickly packs on the kilos. 

Those snack foods loaded with sugar ARE western in origin.

I lived in a village that was as far from the nearest city as can be found in LOS and the convenience store had every known variety of western junk food as known to humanity.

 

Processed western food is chocka with chemicals and is probably why the cancer rate is so high. I avoided a lot by eating in hospital cafeterias and before that in military messes where the food would have been bought in bulk and fresh. Still got cancer though.

 

I drank loads of sodas in LOS, but because I worked so hard outside I didn't have a diabetes problem and I didn't like Thai cake or chocolate so didn't eat too much sugar. That happened once back in NZ and ate heaps of cake and chocolate. After I became prediabetic, I gave up sugar, lost 10kg, and have not progressed to diabetes.

[thaibeachlovers]

12 hours ago, CallumWK said:

 

Prepare your meals a usual, put it on your plate, then discard 30% of it in the rubbish bin. Eat the remaining part

What a waste. Just prepare 30% less. Put the big boy pants on, man up and take responsibility for yourself.

[CallumWK]

1 minute ago, thaibeachlovers said:

What a waste. Just prepare 30% less. Put the big boy pants on, man up and take responsibility for yourself.

 

Really sad when people can't read between the lines of a post to understand the point. Especially those that litter the forum with their wisdom day in day out

[renaissanc]

If you eat lots of fried food and street stall food I think you can't help but become fat.

[kingstonkid]

20 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.

The challenge is the lifestyle.  When I came here in 97 the wife could not find any clothes as she was a size 12.  Now shops are all over.  

 

The challenge is a mixture of fast food, coffee, and a sedentary lifestyle. also there is a huge amount of sitting on their assets.

 

Villages outside the cities are immune because they don't have the shops, and people have to work.

 

I agree that young people seem to be trying to get into the gyms, but many of the gyms have expats using the equipment.  

 

It is a shame but if you think the beautiful Thai ladies are going to disappear you are wrong there are just too many.

[RSD1]

3 hours ago, cdemundo said:

"The few times a year that I ride the skytrain in Bangkok, I try and spend the time counting the number of locals that are overweight versus the number that are not overweight. I would say it is in the range of about 50%."

 

I don't get it. 

What is the fascination with the weight problem of others?

I don't mean to single you out, every time there is thread about this many join in to bash fat people.

 

Live and let live.

I'm not mad at fat people.

Doesn't this fall under the category of MYOB?

Like the song says "If you mind your bizness you'll be happy all the time...",

courtesy Hank Williams.

I’m not pointing this out on the Skytrain to fat shame anyone. I’ve lived here for decades and witnessed a dramatic shift. When I first arrived, the population was generally small and healthy looking. Now, about 50% of people appear to be overweight. These are simply observations.

 

A major public health crisis has emerged. The number of deaths from obesity related complications, including heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions, has skyrocketed compared to when I first came here. This crisis is deeply tied to food, diet, and a lack of education and resources to address the issue.

 

Many suspect that Thailand’s large sugar and agricultural industries play a significant role. These powerful lobbies are believed to influence the government, hindering efforts to regulate the sugar industry. As a result, this unchecked influence continues to contribute to the growing number of preventable deaths.

[RSD1]

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

Obviously, you are right. But with many things, it's a question of motivation. How much do we want to adjust our lives to live healthier and probably longer?

Another example: I ride motorcycle, and I don't own a car. Is it dangerous? Yes, Would it be less dangerous if I would use a car or train, etc. Yes. But I don't do that because a motorcycle is so convenient. 

And I drink beer, wine and whisky from time to time. Not a lot, but I guess not drinking alcohol would be healthier. Why don't I stop it? Because I like it.

It seems to me that some of those healthy this and healthy that people are often not happy. They have to run, they can't eat this and that. And some people stress themselves about those things. Is that good for the mental health? No.

It's up to our own priorities. 

 

I understand your point, it's a question of quality of life versus quantity of life and everyone is free to make that choice for themselves. 
 

The sad thing in Thailand though is that so many are uneducated about the dangers related to eating and drinking and many are developing serious, chronic illnesses, and only understanding about those dangers once it's too late. 
 

The motorcycle topic is a separate issue. I also drive a motorcycle sometimes, but the dangers do worry me. I've made some changes in the locations that I need to go to regularly to where I can now walk to a number of places that I used to need to drive to. So I've significantly reduced the amount of driving I do on the motorcycle to try and reduce the risk factor.  

[RSD1]

If there was more fat shaming going on in Thailand, it probably would be a good thing. There is practically none of that now and many people who are grossly overweight are told that they look cute, including the obese children, and some from a very young age. There is just too much social acceptance of it. 
 

If there was more fat shaming in Thai society, then perhaps more people would be encouraged to lose weight and then end up in better health without all these chronic diseases, which many of them have now that are related to obesity. 
 

It might harm the local sugar, alcohol and pharmaceutical industries, but as a result people would be a lot healthier and live a lot longer.