More Thai people suffering from non-communicable diseases

BANGKOK, October 5 (TNA) – Up to 90,000 Thais are suffering from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) annually of which 37 per cent of them are in working age or less than 60-year-old, said Thailand’s Deputy Health Minister Dr. Somsak Choonharat. Official statistics showed that in 2012, a total of 89,775 persons died of NCDs, mostly from cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart diseases, said Dr. Somsak. Of the total, 37 per cent or 33,545 persons died while they were young and less than 60-year-old. If the problems are left unresolved, the situation could affect household economy because of absence of major income earners. Aged people would be left alone in case the family has only one child, he said. The major causes of NCDs are attributed to bad eating habit and lack of exercise, said Dr. Somsak. He quoted information released by the National Statistical Office in 2011 that only 26 per cent of Thais aged above 11 years old engaged in exercise. On average, they eat only 1.8 grammes of vegetables and fruits a day while the U.N. World Health Organisation says that people should eat between 4 - 6 grammes. In another related crux, some 17 millions of Thai nationwide, aged above five years old, are suffering from obesity while there are signs that the number would rise about 4 million yearly, according to 2012 data released by the Public Health Ministry. It is also found that Thai children aged below five years old are suffering from overnutrition, which is second highest after Indonesia among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Related government agencies have been assigned to tackle the problem. (TNA)