Report UNICEF Launches Crusade Against Thailand's Child Obesity Crisis

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of The Nation

 

UNICEF Thailand has kicked off an urgent campaign, Kin Rai Dee, in response to a burgeoning child obesity crisis threatening to jeopardise the nation's health prospects.

 

This initiative targets Generation Z and young parents by encouraging better dietary choices amidst a disturbing trend of rising obesity rates. Alarmingly, Thailand's childhood overweight and obesity rates have skyrocketed over the past quarter-century.

 

Statistics reveal these rates have more than doubled, with 6-13% of children aged 6-14 and 14% of teenagers aged 15-18 now classified as overweight or obese.

 

UNICEF warns that if no action is taken, over 60% of Thai children could face obesity by 2035. This surge poses severe health risks like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.

 

The campaign is timely, tackling diets dominated by convenience foods like instant noodles and sugary drinks. Kin Rai Dee seeks to flip this script by appealing to youth and guiding them towards nutritious eating habits.

 

 

 

At the heart of this effort lies a captivating short film and an interactive online quiz designed to demystify healthy eating through engaging, personalised advice.

 

Prominent figures such as Peck Palitchoke, Noodi Vanessa Race, and Paula Taylor join forces with UNICEF to attract attention and drive meaningful change.

 

Running through September, Kin Rai Dee utilises social media platforms to cascade expert advice and fun challenges to make healthy eating an exciting venture.

 

Kyungsun Kim, UNICEF Representative for Thailand, stresses the importance of recognising good nutrition's role in ensuring a healthier, prosperous Thailand.

 

With the launch of Kin Rai Dee, UNICEF aims to entrench healthier eating habits into Thai culture, underscoring the pivotal role of today's dietary choices in shaping the nation's future.

 

As the campaign unfolds, the focus remains sharp on the crucial need for dietary reform to combat Thailand's child obesity epidemic head-on.

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-04-25

 

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

But the fat-soaked, deep fried chicken from my friend on the street is soooo tasty and cheap.  

And the kids love it. 

[Gottfrid]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

UNICEF warns that if no action is taken, over 60% of Thai children could face obesity by 2035.

To stop that, the first thing to look at is education.

[Krillin]

I don't understand. How are even rural kids becoming overweight? Buying food takes money, and rural families don't typically have a lot of that.

[Yagoda]

Just another UN thing. Leftist third world bureaucrats getting rich, some child exploitation, plenty of anti US rhetoric, etc.

[Magictoad]

UNICEF!!! Another interfering Quango with dubious ethics.

Why don't they go to Pattaya and deal with some of the fat foreigners.....

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

This initiative targets Generation Z and young parents by encouraging better dietary choices amidst a disturbing trend of rising obesity rates. Alarmingly, Thailand's childhood overweight and obesity rates have skyrocketed over the past quarter-century

How about tackling the root cause... mostly sugar, and target the food industry?

[Tarteso]

1 hour ago, Krillin said:

I don't understand. How are even rural kids becoming overweight? Buying food takes money, and rural families don't typically have a lot of that.

Rural Families buy food at the village market, hot dogs and processed foods abound, 7 eleven’<deleted>s..and they cook at home, adding SUGARS, MSG, FATS and Coca~Colas, just like in US and the rest of the world.

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, Krillin said:

I don't understand. How are even rural kids becoming overweight? Buying food takes money, and rural families don't typically have a lot of that.

Start with the packs of Mama, loaded with unhealthy additives but very affordable.

And then go for the 30 baht large bottles of Pepsi/Cola etc etc

 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

To stop that, the first thing to look at is education.

The first thing to look at is the food industry itself.

Producing and advetising crap as healthy food/drinks

If it isn't on the shelf people can't consume it.

[Gottfrid]

12 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

The first thing to look at is the food industry itself.

Producing and advetising crap as healthy food/drinks

If it isn't on the shelf people can't consume it.

No, absolutely not the first thing. The problem you describe exists in every country. However, people there are more critical to marketing and ads as they generally have a better education and knowledge.

[digger70]

UNICEF Launches Crusade Against Thailand's Child Obesity Crisis

 

Good luck with that ,Can't stop easy street food an drinks .

 

[impulse]

6 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

But the fat-soaked, deep fried chicken from my friend on the street is soooo tasty and cheap.  

And the kids love it. 

 

But that's been around forever.  Something has changed.  I suspect we all know what that is, but that's a deep rabbit hole.

 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

No, absolutely not the first thing. The problem you describe exists in every country. However, people there are more critical to marketing and ads as they generally have a better education and knowledge.

Absolutely yes....

Try educating the people in Thailand... we know how that works.

10 baht in my pocket Mama it is.. they will still by cheap and available.

If it ain't on the shelf they can't buy it.

So NO... start with the manufacturers selling cheap crap.