Get Active, Thais Told

[webfact]

Get active, Thais told

PUANGCHOMPOO PRASERT

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Thais spend more than half the day; over 13 hours on average 'doing very little' and only two hours of physical activity, a recent survey by the Mahidol University's Institute for Population and Social Research has found.

If the trend does not reverse, the population will continue to be plagued by obesity and other health problems, the researchers said.

"In fact, people should engage themselves in physical activity at least six hours a day," Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong said yesterday.

According to the survey, Thais sleep 8.2 hours on average and are physically idle for more than five additional hours each day.

Pradit said a strategy has been drawn up to promote physical activities for people such as walking and bicycling.

"They should do such activities on a daily basis."

The strategy would include good routes for walking and bicycling. It aims to raise the ratio of people with adequate physical activity in their lives from 10 per cent to 76 per cent by 2014.

Pradit was speaking in his capacity as deputy chair of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation.

-- The Nation 2012-11- 20

[noitom]

How about mental activity? The Thai government should insist that Thais all read at least one book every 5 years.

[kurnell]

Hey, that can be their new catchphrase "Idle Thailand"!

[lizardtongue]

Get active, Thais told

Should read, 'Wake up and get active'

According to the survey, Thais sleep 8.2 hours on average and are physically idle for more than five additional hours each day.

That's generous!

Strange that a photograph of two women was used, I would agree if it were of two Thai men!

[lizardtongue]

Dare I say, "Thailand to be the Asian hub of activity"

[Songhua]

Where is the motivation to stay fit and active when they cannot gain any benefit in getting old? Most Thais spend their hours living for the minute, not thinking about how much healthier they 'could be' in a life that comes to a dead end every time they try to turn a corner.

By the way, thirteen hours of inactivity + two hours of doing something = what happens during the other nine hours?

[dcutman]

Where is the motivation to stay fit and active when they cannot gain any benefit in getting old? Most Thais spend their hours living for the minute, not thinking about how much healthier they 'could be' in a life that comes to a dead end every time they try to turn a corner.

By the way, thirteen hours of inactivity + two hours of doing something = what happens during the other nine hours?

Eat of course.

[asiawatcher]

Dare I say, "Thailand to be the Asian hub of activity"

Or hub of 'inactivity'. Go to Phnom Penh or HCM in VN. Every morning people turn up in droves to do community exercise. Never going to happen here.

Edited November 20, 2012 by asiawatcher

[Squigy]

this article is so BKK centric. Come to Issan and see the ppl working 12 hours a day.

[DocN]

wasn't it "Thai women work overtime" last week?

[eeeya]

A cycle way along the bts route would be awesome.

Enclosed in a dome with air conditioners .... now I'm dreaming

[Jane Doe]

By the way, thirteen hours of inactivity + two hours of doing something = what happens during the other nine hours?

The other 9 hours are called 'work'. In Thailand this is a combination of being physically and mentally 'idle'.

[Fookhaht]

this article is so BKK centric. Come to Issan and see the ppl working 12 hours a day.

. . . in the countryside. In the medium-to-larger cities of Isaan, it's the same as BKK.

[coma]

Yes. And it is far to easy to just jump onto one's motorbike to go a couple of hundred meters to the local store or neighbour's house,etc etc. Hell I was guilty of it in the past but I have now become more aware of my lazy Thaiways and walk a lot more.

Edited November 20, 2012 by coma

[Asiantravel]

A cycle way along the bts route would be awesome.

Enclosed in a dome with air conditioners .... now I'm dreaming

in the words of Basil Fawlty ... Brilliant !

[impulse]

...but I have now become more aware of my lazy Thaiways and walk a lot more.

Please tell me you walk faster than the average local...

I can't walk that slow without tipping over.

[atyclb]

One could argue if most are even aware of the "dead end" you refer to, none the less cognizant of it's implications.

We must forgive them because the situation is the reslt of the education system. Not specifically the individuals fault.

It can be incredibly frustrating or sometimes entertaining. I will admit that it loses entertainment value after the 3rd person in the hour walks into me, or trying in vain to get something simple done (in their own language no less)

[coma]

...but I have now become more aware of my lazy Thaiways and walk a lot more.

Please tell me you walk faster than the average local...

I can't walk that slow without tipping over.

[thirteenalpha]

this article is so BKK centric. Come to Issan and see the ppl working 12 hours a day.

Isaan actually has its fair share of sloths. I just took a 15 minute walk to borrow a krok and saak and passed several of the day loungers. They seem to be mostly older women and must have someone supporting them, but there are other kinds as well.

What I find funny is how many people will use a motorbike to go two houses down the street. I see this all the time. I remember a couple weeks ago my wife wanted to drive to a party that was maybe a 5 minute walk. We drove less than 100m and had to park because there were so many cars.

I actually enjoy walking in the village and usually walk to the farthest shop to get something and listen to all the day loungers asking me to eat or drink lao khao with them. Perhaps it is the lack of sidewalks that discourages walking. But having space available for sidewalks requires some planning which, unfortunately, is a virtue lacking in this culture.

Edited November 20, 2012 by thirteenalpha

[tomross46]

I do not understand, Thai people are active, but every time that happens the riot police are called out and the UDD say it is a coup against Thaksin Democracy.

[Squigy]

Only when money is involved will they become active.. 500 Baht for attending a demo. Any "poor Thai" would do the same.

[Squigy]

Yes. And it is far to easy to just jump onto one's motorbike to go a couple of hundred meters to the local store or neighbour's house,etc etc. Hell I was guilty of it in the past but I have now become more aware of my lazy Thaiways and walk a lot more.

You no Thai..no understand! B/S...

[davejones]

Where is the motivation to stay fit and active when they cannot gain any benefit in getting old? Most Thais spend their hours living for the minute, not thinking about how much healthier they 'could be' in a life that comes to a dead end every time they try to turn a corner.

By the way, thirteen hours of inactivity + two hours of doing something = what happens during the other nine hours?

Sleep.

[cup-O-coffee]

2555 years to evolve into the survey and poll hub of the world! I guess there isn't much worry about their existence, since there seem to be no shortage of Thais being bred to replace those who don't measure up to "The" standard or "The" flavor of the day. Recyclable people... that's what they are, heh heh.

[atyclb]

I sincerely believe if the olympics added "sleeping" an an official event team thailand would bring home gold.

Not limited to less educated either. I had once asked my accountant what sport she likes or what she does to stay in shape. She replied "sleep"

Keep in mind this can have a double meaning as it can be a polite way to refer to intimate activities. In her case for this question, it was "sleep" nothing else.

One of my thai-american friends had a severe ankle strain, was wearing a suportive wrap, and limping. He did comment that despite that, he was walking faster than the locals.

My concern is that if they move any slower, breathing might cease.

Edited November 20, 2012 by atyclb

[EarthAlien]

How about mental activity? The Thai government should insist that Thais all read at least one book every 5 years.

Better teach them how to read first!

[jaltsc]

"But... if I can't just sit around..and I have to walk to where I'm going instead of driving...and my whole family isn't obese, how will everyone know that we are better off than them?

Changing a lifestyle starts with changing the cultural mindset...which seems to be stuck in the 19th century. Good Luck

[Tanaka]

I walk in Isaan at all hours during the day and everytime I see Thai men sitting idle talking and smoking or sleeping. Not the same men every time.

[lemonjelly]

Thai people have always been like cats..... sleep anytime anywhere, and who is to blame them in this tropical climate. I think it's more to do with their diet, more greasy food in larger quantities than in the past.

[Rancid]

Hmmm, perhaps some photos of the bureaucrats that work at the Ministry of Health should have been used to serve as an inspiration to other others as to what a regimine of sensible eating and exercise can achieve. No doubt just an oversight, although the good doctor himself is looking pretty trim: