Under-nutrition in Thailand has been successfully controlled for over two decades.
However, Thailand is now facing a double-burden malnutrition problem where
under- and over-nutrition coexist. Overweight, obesity, and related diseases are
the main nutritional challenges, leading to high costs for curative care. Thailand
foresees that nutrition can be an effective strategy for preventing diet-related
non-communicable chronic diseases, and the country aims to reduce costs for
secondary and tertiary health care. Various organizations have conducted national
programmes, focusing especially on nutrition education and public campaigns,
which have been sustainable and not sustainable. Only milk and certain foods for
children are mandated for nutrition labeling. Guideline daily amounts is now the
nutrient profile mandated for snack foods in Thailand. To increase efficiency,
Thailand’s National Food Committee has been established to link food, nutrition
and health via a multi-sectoral approach.