[Borzopayn]

Thailand fattens up


We eat out at least 13 times a week, the highest rate in Southeast Asia, and it shows on the waistline.

According to a survey by the Kasikorn Research Centre, Thais on average spend 927 baht ($28) to eat out 13 times a week, which may go some way towards explaining why 18 per cent of the population are supposedly obese.

Health advocates, who gathered in Bangkok for a meeting (and dinners) that began Wednesday, claimed that 12 million Thais suffer from obesity, and risk dangerous health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and strokes, the main causes of death in the country.

Between 1986 to 2004 the kingdom has seen the number of overweight people increase 7.5 times, with the growing waistlines blamed on changing lifestyles and eating habits, such as a fondness for foreign fast foods that matches the demand for the local variety, said Dr Saming Kaocharoen, a health advocate.

There are currently more than 1,000 outlets operating in Thailand, with many more under construction.

According to research conducted by Dr Khanat Kruthkul, a specialist in cardiology, a plate of fried chicken, french fries and a soft drink contains 1,025 calories while a cheeseburger contains 410 calories.

But Thai street food is equally to blame for the rising calorie intake.

Thai fast foods, popular at the country's ubiquitous street stall, are equally calorie-loaded. A plate of kway teow pad phai, Thai style fried noodles, contains 700 calories. Somtam (papaya salad), sticky rice and grilled chicken, another Thai favourite, contains 760 calories, according to Khanat's fast food chart.

He advises men to keep their intake down to 2,000 calories a day, and women should stay below 1,500. (dpa)

Bangkok Post