I found the reason why most Thais are thin

[puukao]

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/17/air-pollution-linked-to-lower-birth-weights/

Air pollution linked to lower birth weights.

I always feel bad when I see children playing in the smog-filled air, or witness pregnant women walk around without a face mask. In fact, I wish all tourists avoided Thailand in March because of the bad air. I know, won't happen.

Anyhow, food for thought.

[theblether]

I think you will find theres a combiantion of factors including.......

Social pressure

Spicy food

Genuine malnourishment

Tapeworm infestation

[MJP]

So how come my 5 foot 6 inch ex-missus now weighs 100 kilogrammes?

Seriously.

She's like Matron!

[MegaRanter]

They used to b thin.

Not anymore.

[MrWorldwide]

One word - Swensen

[Thaddeus]

So how come my 5 foot 6 inch ex-missus now weighs 100 kilogrammes?

Seriously.

Seriously, my ex is the same, didn't see her for three years, and when I did, I didn't recognise her.

As I said to my first wife (English) "no darling, it isn't water retention, it's cake retention"

[kevozman1]

Diet and climate play a much bigger role I should imagine.

[Nautilus05]

No, it's not due to air pollution. It's because most Thais are poor, and can't afford to eat sirloin steak every night.

Go hang out in the wealthy sub-divisions, and you'll see no shortage of chunkies wandering around.

]

[Thaddeus]

No, it's not due to air pollution. It's because most Thais are poor, and can't afford to eat sirloin steak every night.

Go hang out in the wealthy sub-divisions, and you'll see no shortage of chunkies wandering around.

]

It's pretty difficult to get fat on a diet of sirloin steak.

Sugar laden soups, pork rinds, Lays potato chips et al is another matter altogether.

[wprime]

You'll find that in Thailand, the higher the pollution level of a province, the higher the average weight is. Thai people are thinner because they eat less and move more.

[benalibina]

You'll find that in Thailand, the higher the pollution level of a province, the higher the average weight is. Thai people are thinner because they eat less and move more.

Move more ??

[AYJAYDEE]

You'll find that in Thailand, the higher the pollution level of a province, the higher the average weight is. Thai people are thinner because they eat less and move more.

pollution and increased weight are both a function of increased wealth and economic activity. to say one causes the other is silly

[benalibina]

You'll find that in Thailand, the higher the pollution level of a province, the higher the average weight is. Thai people are thinner because they eat less and move more.

Move more ??

Do you like to move it?

.

You got me thinking you live a villagelife !!

[MAJIC]

Interesting theory Puukao but doesn't take into account that all of Thailand does not suffer from polluted air,the places that do:such as Changmai are seasonal. To form an Hypothesis is easy, to prove it takes a vast amount of research and money . You could start with Government Statistics if there are any? especially with children born in the areas of more than average Pollution,as opposed to areas and Provinces with little or no Pollution.

Another good starting point for research would be to study the figures in Cities with dense traffic and poor air,and the birth weights and general health of new born babies,and also in clean air Provinces etc,the variables of a Study of this nature,necessary to prove your Hypothesis would be many.

Good Luck with your findings!

[MAJIC]

I think you will find theres a combiantion of factors including.......

Social pressure

Spicy food

Genuine malnourishment

Tapeworm infestation

Possibles, and some other points the OP will need to take into account. I actually know a Thai Lady,who is about 4 ft 6 inches,who thinks her size is due to lack of nourishment in her formative years.

[MAJIC]

No, it's not due to air pollution. It's because most Thais are poor, and can't afford to eat sirloin steak every night.

Go hang out in the wealthy sub-divisions, and you'll see no shortage of chunkies wandering around.

]

It's pretty difficult to get fat on a diet of sirloin steak.

Sugar laden soups, pork rinds, Lays potato chips et al is another matter altogether.

Incidently, I see many Thais in the UK who have been there many years, and the majority,have more than enough upholstery to see them through the coming Winter,and just like Thailand,there are some that are comparable in size with fat people in the west. Personally I think it's all down to diet.

[johnlandy]

They used to b thin.

Not anymore.

Exactly! anyone who thinks they are thin has not seen them come out of the high schools every afternoon.....

[Dararasmi]

Are most Thais thin? I'm keen to see your data. And what constitutes "thin"?

[ChrisB87]

They are not thin anymore.

Most, these days, are getting quite chubby and curvy - nothing wrong with that - but wait til it gets too far.

I get the distinct impression that it is, in fact, more socially acceptable to be bigger here, than the west.

Actually, being a bit chunky seems to be coming into fashion. I am noticing a deliberate chunkiness in most of the models on TV and i think the local girls are copying.

[kikoman]

I think in has to do more with diet and eating habits, most Thais do not eat A great big beef steak, they prefer to eat bits of pork/chicken mixed with vegetables, very heavy on fresh water fish and sea food.

Thai's are thin in relations to many western countries, but the diet choices are changing for Thai youth that crave the western style fast food diet that is extremely fattening and walk around drinking coke or pepsi most of the time.

The move away from their parents diet and eating habits will result with a much fatter Thai population in the future.

Cheers: .

[bender92]

One word - Swensen

KFC amd McD are changing that rapidly.

[chrisinth]

To the OP...............

If you are seriously suggesting that air pollution is responsible for a populations weight, could you explain what has happened to the US? Or are the emission levels under control there?

Silly...................

[hkt83100]

One word - Swensen

KFC amd McD are changing that rapidly.

It has been answered before...

[monkeycountry]

Dunno where you (OP) are staying for the air to be bad in March, but why avoid Thailand just because it is polluted where you are staying? There are plenty of places in Thailand with excellent air quality in March - and the rest of the year for that matter.

[AlphMichaels]

Thais ARE getting fatter. And it saddens me to see young boys and girls stopping off at 7-11 to buy sweet cakes and sweetened milk for a snack on their way home from school. Too many Thais are joining the now alarming statistical group called Pre-diabetic (Type 1) and fully diagnosed (Type II) diabetics worldwide. The numbers continue to rise because western societies and multi-national food giants are feeding them processed food filled with sugars. These multi-national groups seek out the "bliss point" or "stomach share" of their consumers with foods that are relatively inexpensive and easy to find (7-11, Family Mart, et. al.).

Traditionally Thais ate fresh, non-processed foods. Now the western world is introducing the same foods that have made their populations sick, overweight, and suffering from chronic diseases including obesity (now considered a disease), diabetes, cardiovascular, and kidney disease.

I'll take the Thai food over the sirloin (BTW now laden with chemicals) or processed foods that have rendered the health of the western world something of a crisis over the last 40 years.

[belg]

10 years ago, hardly any fatty around, now, it looks more & more like western countries

thanks to mcdonalds, kfc's & other junk outlets

sugary candies, fried whatever is another problem

let's not forget cola, est, pepsi & other colourfull sugar laden drinks

[Dararasmi]

10 years ago, hardly any fatty around, now, it looks more & more like western countries

thanks to mcdonalds, kfc's & other junk outlets

sugary candies, fried whatever is another problem

let's not forget cola, est, pepsi & other colourfull sugar laden drinks

What are you on about? Back 20-25 years ago, there were loads of overweight Thais. There are more now, but the amount is not drastically higher.

While it's fashionable to blame Western diets, fast food, Coke, Pepsi, etc., sedentary lifestyles are more to blame. Thais have always loved to shovel loads of crappy food down their gullets.

[SICHONSTEVE]

I think that you have spent too much time ogling the bar girls in Pattaya. Thai's are not thin now because of their awful diets!!

You're science is similar to big pharma's lies BTW!!

[myluckythai]

No, it's not due to air pollution. It's because most Thais are poor, and can't afford to eat sirloin steak every night.

Go hang out in the wealthy sub-divisions, and you'll see no shortage of chunkies wandering around.

]

right, look at the food they eat. no big fat steaks, with gravy, no potatoes, no hamburgers, fat cheese , ham, macaroni etcetc, eat rice and fish all day and you won't gain a lot of weight. saying that is if the can eat multiple meals a day. parts of my family eat only noodles with a few leaves inside as a meal......

Edited October 24, 2013 by myluckythai

[Zumteufel]

You'll find that in Thailand, the higher the pollution level of a province, the higher the average weight is. Thai people are thinner because they eat less and move more.

Move more ??

Physical work, walking, getting more exercise.