Should Thailand tax junk food to help fight obesity?

[sprq]

Is obesity really an epidemic here. Sure there are obese people here but walking down the street today it hardly stands out as a problem.

You haven't been here long. Those of us with a decade or more here know full well how things have changed, and the change is so big that it is a truly serious problem. Fat people -- overweight people, if you prefer -- were rare in Thailand until very recently, and obese people were so unusual that you would stop and stare if you ever saw one. Now everywhere you go you can see Thais who are as broad as they are tall, waddling, wobbly-fleshed monstrosities, and it is truly shocking for us old hands. Once a slim race, now the Thais are more often than not chunky or chubby. It's a health crisis that is only going to get far, far worse unless -- highly unlikely -- the nation learns how to eat and live healthily, or -- more likely -- there is a severe economic downturn and people don't have the money for over-eating.

[Jingthing]

I totally agree. Unless drastic action is taken by the Thai government I would bet within a few decades that Thailand will be challenging Mexico as the most obese nation on the planet. That's the way the TREND is going. The health consciousness of most Thai people about their diet is almost nonexistent. You can push pie in sky "education" solutions but if you really think that would work, I've got a bridge to sell you too.

Edited January 1, 2014 by Jingthing

[Kangawallafox]

Is obesity really an epidemic here. Sure there are obese people here but walking down the street today it hardly stands out as a problem.

You haven't been here long. Those of us with a decade or more here know full well how things have changed, and the change is so big that it is a truly serious problem. Fat people -- overweight people, if you prefer -- were rare in Thailand until very recently, and obese people were so unusual that you would stop and stare if you ever saw one. Now everywhere you go you can see Thais who are as broad as they are tall, waddling, wobbly-fleshed monstrosities, and it is truly shocking for us old hands. Once a slim race, now the Thais are more often than not chunky or chubby. It's a health crisis that is only going to get far, far worse unless -- highly unlikely -- the nation learns how to eat and live healthily, or -- more likely -- there is a severe economic downturn and people don't have the money for over-eating.

I see your point but do you think it's more often then not,I was in KFC toad and there were two fat people as opposed to about fifteen who were not.

They are absolutely getting fatter but is it epidemic.

For the record I may not live here now,but I have lived here in the past,and some of that is on and off for over a decade,and I don't just mean a few weeks a year.

Will check my private page I'm sure it does not mention my background.

[Jingthing]

YES!

It is a "GLOBESITY" epidemic and Thailand is officially infected.

http://www.thedailymeal.com/news/obesity-now-major-issue-thailand/100113

Research found that the average Thai male only consumes 268 grams of produce (roughly more than 0.5 pounds) a day, with the Ministry of Public Health estimating that by 2015, Thailand will have 21 million overweight or obese residents.

...

Thailand isn't the only country with expanding waistlines; Mexico recently became the country with the highest obesity rate,although the United States followed closely behind. A Harvard study noted that obesity is no longer a problem solely in Western countries; it has now become a "globesity epidemic," with some 500 million adults worldwide that are considered obese.

http://www.burning-bison.com/obesity.htm

Summary:

The incidence of obesity in Thailand is already significantly higher than in most other countries in the region, and worse is yet to come. The potential magnitude of the problem has been recognized by Thai health experts, and some small-scale or experimental remedial programs have been initiated. Those who wield the power to effect the necessary change may, however, be much slower to comprehend the significance of this burgeoning obesity crisis. Even when they do, they will invariably struggle to develop and implement an appropriate response. Failure to act quickly and decisively in addressing this issue will incur substantial social and economic costs for the Thai community.

Edited January 1, 2014 by Jingthing

[mogandave]

Yes, the only solution is to tax the rice immediately! Once the cost of a serving of rice is increased from ten to fifteen baht, Thais will trim back down.

Problem solved.

NEXT!!!!!!!!

[Thai at Heart]

Oh, please. We are talking about a specific class of very HARMFUL fake food, not that big list. Read the OP, OK?

I just love this "concern" for poor people about regressive taxes. I don't believe you. You don't have REAL concern. Real concern to help stop people in general from killing themselves and do you actually want to pay yourselves for their health care when they get obesity related diseases? I guess your lot is against high cigarette taxes too.

It's none of our business if someone wants to reduce their life span by doing anything that might. Besides, who decides what is good or what is bad, some ol' MP who spent his life eating meat and two veg. Naaaaaaaaaah, first world countries are turning into dictatorial states as it is.

What next, a farting in public tax.

It might be if they are making uninformed choices.

[JeffreyWitty]

Although we all KNOW its smarter to eat healthier foods, I have SERIOUS problems with governments who try to regulate it's citizens habits through taxation. It does not solve the problem. You either BAN a product because it is dangerous OR you allow the populace to make up their own minds on how they wish to live their lives - THEN tell them they have to live with the consequences of their personal actions.

Having said that, education is key - sometimes you need a SMALL tax to help pay for the dissemination of information to the masses.

[NeverSure]

I think they should tax the sh1t out of weigh lifting equipment. It isn't fair for the rest of the people to pay for the injuries people get to their backs, knees, shoulders etc. just because the people made a risky choice.

[mogandave]

I agree with most of what you said, but do you think people that eat junk food generally think it is healthy? I think not.

Why not jut let the people selling whole grain rice advertise it as being healthy and white rice as being unhealthy and leave taxes out of it?

[Thai at Heart]

I agree with most of what you said, but do you think people that eat junk food generally think it is healthy? I think not.

Why not jut let the people selling whole grain rice advertise it as being healthy and white rice as being unhealthy and leave taxes out of it?

Who is going to check if the advertising claims they make are true or not?

[NeverSure]

I have to laugh. So many times people talk about the "freedoms" they have in Thailand as opposed to their home country. Then they move to Thailand and try to make it just like their home country.

Government. We need lots more government. Nanny State. God, we don't have nearly enough rules in Thailand.

Taxes. We need to tax everything and control everyone. God, we don't have enough taxes in Thailand. Let's think up more taxes.

Keep working at it and it will be just like the UK and then you'll be satisfied?

[mogandave]

I agree with most of what you said, but do you think people that eat junk food generally think it is healthy? I think not.

Why not jut let the people selling whole grain rice advertise it as being healthy and white rice as being unhealthy and leave taxes out of it?

Who is going to check if the advertising claims they make are true or not?

Their competitors in both their own ads and in court with civil suits.

Taxing foods that are bad for people that most everyone knows is bad for them to fund a government program that tells people that the foods that are are being taxed are bad for them, which they already know.

Do obese people generally not know they are obese or not know they are making poor food choices? Do you really think taxing them is going to help them?

If it is bad enough that the government needs to tax people and and spend the money tell the people that are buying it is bad for them, then the government should just have it taken off the market.

While I understand people with social engineering ideas are willing to do anything to feel better about themselves, I don't think doing anything is better than doing nothing, unless the anything is actually going to help in some significant way.

It seems a lot of people that claim to be for choice are really only for the choices they approve.

[Thai at Heart]

I agree with most of what you said, but do you think people that eat junk food generally think it is healthy? I think not.

Why not jut let the people selling whole grain rice advertise it as being healthy and white rice as being unhealthy and leave taxes out of it?

Who is going to check if the advertising claims they make are true or not?

Their competitors in both their own ads and in court with civil suits.

Taxing foods that are bad for people that most everyone knows is bad for them to fund a government program that tells people that the foods that are are being taxed are bad for them, which they already know.

Do obese people generally not know they are obese or not know they are making poor food choices? Do you really think taxing them is going to help them?

If it is bad enough that the government needs to tax people and and spend the money tell the people that are buying it is bad for them, then the government should just have it taken off the market.

While I understand people with social engineering ideas are willing to do anything to feel better about themselves, I don't think doing anything is better than doing nothing, unless the anything is actually going to help in some significant way.

It seems a lot of people that claim to be for choice are really only for the choices they approve.

I am not sure that the taxation route works myself. Might be interesting to see.

At the end of the day, they tax beverages by there alcohol content, why can't they do so with added refined sugar percentages? Not saying they should, but why not? On a percentage basis of added sugar increase the tax. Why not?

Should coke be only a few baht more expensive than water per liter? Would there be a significant change in consumption? Would it be worth it?

If coke doubled in price how big a drop would the consumption be? Might not people switch to water.

Unintended consequences? Poverty in the countryside as sugar crops go unbought? Suppliers if co2 for carbonation go bust?

Edited January 2, 2014 by Thai at Heart

[rabbitrabbit]

An interesting article on Thailand's health crisis, worth a read: http://www.chiangmainews.com/ecmn/viewfa.php?id=3954

[Jingthing]

People should be aware that the most potentially effective measures are focused on prevention. The already obese are mostly stuck that way for life. Obesity specialists know this.

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[David48]

JT ... I will say this ... while in the area I live and travel through which is cosmopolitan Bangkok (CBD for want of a better term), the many markets in Samut Prakan ... I see very few, almost no 'Fat' Thais.

But ...

But I take on-board in some other posts recently, that there does seem to be a thought that some Thais, be they kids or adults have expanded their waist-lines.

[transam]

JT ... I will say this ... while in the area I live and travel through which is cosmopolitan Bangkok (CBD for want of a better term), the many markets in Samut Prakan ... I see very few, almost no 'Fat' Thais.

But ...

But I take on-board in some other posts recently, that there does seem to be a thought that some Thais, be they kids or adults have expanded their waist-lines.

Perhaps more cash in pockets, doesn't mean farang food though. Could be Thai food in abundance cos of the increased cash flow..

[Jingthing]

JT ... I will say this ... while in the area I live and travel through which is cosmopolitan Bangkok (CBD for want of a better term), the many markets in Samut Prakan ... I see very few, almost no 'Fat' Thais.

But ...

But I take on-board in some other posts recently, that there does seem to be a thought that some Thais, be they kids or adults have expanded their waist-lines.

Very open minded of you.

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[transam]

In the UK the healthiest time for folk was during WW2. Food was rationed. Answers a lot of questions for me.

[mumjokmok]

Maybe rather than have a tax as the deterrent Thai's should focus on the thought of what goes into their food first. They have yet to grasp the nuances of the processed food industry and are 'babes in the woods' on the issue. With a bit of real education this rural population with close roots to their food traditions and agriculture might see their eyeballs pop out of their heads in realisation.

I'm a bit suprised that particularly in the South the luk chin carts are so popular (processed fish and meat balls, reconstituted prawn and crab, the hotdog varieties, on a stick deep-fried for 5,10 or even 15 baht each if you like hand-wrapped bacon around your sausage, drown that mother in sweet sticky sauce.... oh my diabetes). It's still simple (and still legal!) to go and slice yourself up 5kg of pork fillet or chicken, fire up the motorbike-mounted charcoal barbecue and get some real protein. (Can't argue the cultural difference from Isaan as sa'tay is sold using pork in the south, yet is scarce compared to the lazy option of feeding a whole 2kg plastic bag full of defrosted balls onto a stick).

The chains are gaining momentum steadily and their 'modern' products gaining the focus of the image-conscious amongst the people, even without the baseless demands of a child who sees a tv commercial to add weight on top of that factor. Recently the chains seem to have become the cheaper option for meat, although vegetables still seemingly reign supreme at the local markets due to the nature of the consumer only needing a bit here and a bit there, or a massive bulk order. Supermarket chains fail spectacularly at selling fresh vegetables worldwide. Please just leave it alone, stick to canneries and juice for brand names.

The people should decide whether to tax junk food or not after they know what goes into making it. It's a bit like the 80's here now with 'new' this and 'new' that. It's still a convenience store and it's still a perceived 'convenience' to get six straws and three plastic bags, or a tiny bag and straw for my can of coffee.

Rather than tax junk food, maybe some health education is needed that is community-based rather than sponsored, providing some awareness of what the consumer consumes. Bit of a re-vamp of existing local markets, such as laying cement floors and sectioning booths for vendors with all-weather facilities, I know it culls the feeling of the old time merchant trade but it solidifies the existence of a fresh produce market in a village,( the beautiful and lively Jao Fa rd morning market into Phuket town, R.I.P. forever ). It also keeps alive a point of sale for non-conglomerate business. Am I going to lead this fight? Um, not likely mates, it's huge and mighty, someone else poke it in the eye....

To tax junk food now might be a bit like taxing measured carbon farts. We can address the very last phase of the issue to make a difference and probably be able to prove it with a spreadsheet printout, but it doesn't address the appetites of our destruction, and everyone should know what they are eating up first.

[Jingthing]

In the UK the healthiest time for folk was during WW2. Food was rationed. Answers a lot of questions for me.

More than that, the people were forced to eat healthier BROWN bread!

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[transam]

In the UK the healthiest time for folk was during WW2. Food was rationed. Answers a lot of questions for me.

More than that, the people were forced to eat healthier BROWN bread!

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Hmmmmm, don't know about that, but the main thing was a vast reduction on food intake, what ever the food.

I do it now in LOS, eat once a day and I feel better than I have ever done.

[Kudel]

I think people living so called "healthy" lifestyles should also be taxed extra and pay more insurance for their hobbys,every year in the west its the same thing insurance companys have to repatriate people from skieng holidays with broken arms and bones and because of this insurance premiums go up and this is costing employers and taxpayers a shitload of money .

[samran]

I have to laugh. So many times people talk about the "freedoms" they have in Thailand as opposed to their home country. Then they move to Thailand and try to make it just like their home country.

Government. We need lots more government. Nanny State. God, we don't have nearly enough rules in Thailand.

Taxes. We need to tax everything and control everyone. God, we don't have enough taxes in Thailand. Let's think up more taxes.

Keep working at it and it will be just like the UK and then you'll be satisfied?

um, yeah, moving to Thailand...and making it like their home countries....

The concept of irony doesn't really register too well with those who hail south of the 49th and north of the Rio Grande does it?

Not that I really have a problem with 'outside influences'. I'm not going to be one of these people who chastise others (not that you have to me) for commenting on topics on countries I don't hold a passport of....

The more views here the better, even if they are, well, a bit loopy

[samran]

In the UK the healthiest time for folk was during WW2. Food was rationed. Answers a lot of questions for me.

and you've got a problem with government regulation? Goodness.

Rationing food was one of the dumbest decisions ever done post war. It constrained the proper functioning of markets and only led to black markets etc etc.

Stalin and Mao managed to torpedo their economies too, shall we copy their policies so we can beat this obesity thing without any taxes?

People accuse me of being a frigging socialist, which is funny cause I'm probably to the more to right of the economic spectrum than most of you blokes here.

As I've said repeatedly, most of you fella's have problems with government, unless it is government which you can benefit off.

[transam]

In the UK the healthiest time for folk was during WW2. Food was rationed. Answers a lot of questions for me.

and you've got a problem with government regulation? Goodness.

Rationing food was one of the dumbest decisions ever done post war. It constrained the proper functioning of markets and only led to black markets etc etc.

Stalin and Mao managed to torpedo their economies too, shall we copy their policies so we can beat this obesity thing without any taxes?

People accuse me of being a frigging socialist, which is funny cause I'm probably to the more to right of the economic spectrum than most of you blokes here.

As I've said repeatedly, most of you fella's have problems with government, unless it is government which you can benefit off.

Eh.........

[samran]

In the UK the healthiest time for folk was during WW2. Food was rationed. Answers a lot of questions for me.

and you've got a problem with government regulation? Goodness.

Rationing food was one of the dumbest decisions ever done post war. It constrained the proper functioning of markets and only led to black markets etc etc.

Stalin and Mao managed to torpedo their economies too, shall we copy their policies so we can beat this obesity thing without any taxes?

People accuse me of being a frigging socialist, which is funny cause I'm probably to the more to right of the economic spectrum than most of you blokes here.

As I've said repeatedly, most of you fella's have problems with government, unless it is government which you can benefit off.

Eh.........

don't worry mate, there is a Bulgarian's and Romanian's taking over the UK thread over in the news section....Daily Mail and all, probably alot more your style...

[brit1984]

People should be aware that the most potentially effective measures are focused on prevention. The already obese are mostly stuck that way for life. Obesity specialists know this.

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

totally agree... prevention is best... sterilize fat women so they can't pass on their weak metabolism genes, or torture their kids to death with happy meals

[transam]

In the UK the healthiest time for folk was during WW2. Food was rationed. Answers a lot of questions for me.

and you've got a problem with government regulation? Goodness.

Rationing food was one of the dumbest decisions ever done post war. It constrained the proper functioning of markets and only led to black markets etc etc.

Stalin and Mao managed to torpedo their economies too, shall we copy their policies so we can beat this obesity thing without any taxes?

People accuse me of being a frigging socialist, which is funny cause I'm probably to the more to right of the economic spectrum than most of you blokes here.

As I've said repeatedly, most of you fella's have problems with government, unless it is government which you can benefit off.

Eh.........

don't worry mate, there is a Bulgarian's and Romanian's taking over the UK thread over in the news section....Daily Mail and all, probably alot more your style...

I never read the Mail.

[Jingthing]

People should be aware that the most potentially effective measures are focused on prevention. The already obese are mostly stuck that way for life. Obesity specialists know this.

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

totally agree... prevention is best... sterilize fat women so they can't pass on their weak metabolism genes, or torture their kids to death with happy meals

Genetics is usually not the dominant factor in obesity being passed to new generations. Cultural factors more like it. But oddly you've got a sick point that fat parents are more likely to raise fat kids. That's real.