On November 12, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. at the Grand Richmond Stylish Convention Hotel, Nonthaburi Province, the Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) in collaboration with the Thailand Physical Activity Knowledge Development Centre (TPAK), the Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, the Division of Physical Activity for Health, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, and network partners organized a press conference on “12 Years of Physical Activity Promotion for Healthy Thai Lifestyles.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chalermpol Chamchan, Director of the Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, revealed the success of the development of the physical activity database system of Thailand at the press conference on “12 Years of Physical Activity Promotion for Healthy Thai Lifestyles”. He stated that the institute has collaborated with the Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) to initiate and develop research that covers the healthy lifestyle of the Thai population in all age groups. The institute has a database and a system to monitor the physical activity behavior of the Thai population since 2012. The operation over the past 12 years has been an important starting point in creating a database system with international standards. This allows us to monitor the current situation of the physical activity of the Thai population and use the data to support planning and policy making for health promotion appropriately. The work of the Thailand Physical Activity Knowledge Development Centre (TPAK), Institute for Population and Social Research, have established a strong foundation for research and academic excellence, ensuring comprehensive readiness in every aspect, including experience, work processes, knowledge, and quality data sets, to align with evolving demographic, societal, and economic shifts at national, regional, and global levels. It plays a vital role in gathering data to support the formulation and execution of policies that promote physical activity while generating credible and high-quality knowledge. It also focuses on developing tools and database systems for continuous situation monitoring and collaborates with partners at both policy and implementation levels to achieve tangible, impactful societal outcomes.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Piyawat Katewongsa, Director of the Thailand Physical Activity Knowledge Development Centre (TPAK), shared insights into the disparities in physical activity among five vulnerable groups: women, children, the elderly, low-income earners, and the unemployed. The findings revealed that only 25.4%, or approximately one in four children under five, engage in adequate physical activity. Additionally, data from 2023 highlighted that 22.5% of Thai children experienced developmental delays.
For the group of children and youth (aged 5-17 years), which is the most concerning group, it was found that only 21.4 percent had sufficient physical activity in 2023, with a 12-year average of only 23.1 percent. Meanwhile, the percentage of adults (aged 18-59 years) having sufficient physical activity in 2023 was 70.7 percent, and the elderly (aged 60 years and over) was 68.9 percent. In addition, inequalities in other dimensions were found, especially among women, low-income earners, unemployed individuals, and those living in areas with limited access to healthcare facilities, which are issues that need to be urgently addressed.
Moreover, from the evaluation of physical activity promotion policies in Thailand, it was found that there were three areas that still had the lowest scores and needed to be urgently implemented: Whole-of-school approach, Community-wide initiative, and Healthcare integration.
In addition, it also provided guidelines and opportunities to address policy implementation gaps, aiming to meet the World Health Organization’s standards for promoting physical activity. This requires urgently elevating physical activity to a national priority and fostering collaboration to close implementation gaps, ensuring equality across all population groups. Future efforts should emphasize rehabilitation, maintaining activity levels, and stimulating physical activity in diverse groups, aligning with both national and international objectives.
This is to continue Mahidol University’s strategy in driving research that creates Real World Impact and Academic Impact to create positive impacts on society and is consistent with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He emphasized that this event will be an important opportunity for exchanging knowledge, addressing emerging inequalities in Thai society, and promoting physical activity among people across all regions of Thailand.
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