Rising Public Health Concerns in Thailand
Thailand is experiencing a concerning shift in public health trends that could lead to a significant increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the coming years. According to the latest National Health Examination Survey (NHES), these trends highlight the urgent need for early intervention, particularly among younger populations.
Dr. Wichai Aekplakorn, head of the Community Medicine Department at the Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, recently presented findings from this survey. The research was conducted in collaboration with Thai Health and the Health Systems Research Institute between August 2024 and April 2025. It involved 30,057 participants across the country, focusing on four key NCD risk factors: obesity, hypertension, high total cholesterol, and diabetes.
The data reveals a sharp rise in all these indicators compared to figures from 2004. Obesity has increased from 28.6% to 45%, while hypertension has climbed from 22% to 29.5%. High cholesterol levels have risen from 16.5% to 19.8%, and diabetes prevalence has gone up from 6.6% to 10.6%.
Undiagnosed Cases and Age-Specific Trends
One of the most alarming findings is that 27% of people with diabetes remain undiagnosed, and nearly half of those with hypertension are unaware of their condition. This lack of awareness can lead to severe long-term complications if not addressed promptly.
Obesity is now most prevalent among individuals aged 15-34, indicating a growing concern among younger adults. Meanwhile, high cholesterol peaks in the 45-59 age group. Metabolic syndrome affects 28.4% of Thais and is increasing across all age groups.
The survey estimates that approximately 6.1 million Thais live with diabetes, 17.5 million have hypertension, and 5.7 million are pre-diabetic. These numbers underscore the scale of the challenge facing the healthcare system.
Lifestyle Factors Driving the Rise in NCDs
Dr. Roengrudee Patanavanich, also from Ramathibodi Hospital, emphasized that lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption and tobacco use are contributing significantly to the rise in NCDs.
While traditional cigarette smoking has declined from 25.3% in 2004 to 18.5%, e-cigarette use has nearly tripled since 2020, reaching 2.8% in 2025. The survey estimates that 60,000 e-cigarette users are aged 10-14, and 840,000 are aged 20-29. This trend raises concerns about the long-term health impacts on younger generations.
Heavy drinking has also increased, rising from 10.9% in 2015 to 12.9% in 2025. Additionally, 42.6% of respondents reported insufficient physical activity, a significant increase from 30% in previous surveys.
Key Findings and Implications
The NHES highlights several critical areas of concern:
- Obesity: Increased to 45%, up from 28.6%
- Hypertension: Rose to 29.5%, up from 22%
- High Cholesterol: Increased to 19.8%, up from 16.5%
- Diabetes: Surged to 10.6%, up from 6.6%
These trends indicate a growing burden of chronic diseases that could strain Thailand’s healthcare resources and impact economic productivity. Early prevention strategies, especially targeting young people, are essential to mitigate these risks.