Health Department worries city students becoming obese

BANGKOK, March 1 (TNA) -- Thailand's Department of Health organised workshop for teachers within the vicinity of the city to help solve the problem of overweight and obesity by strressing on the teaching of nutrition and exercise. Deputy Director-general of the Health Department Dr Danai Theewanda presided over the opening ceremony of an academic workshop titled, "The Promotion of Potential Creation of Personnel to Develop the Health of Students in Bangkok Schools" under projects initiated by HM the King for 2016, earlier today. During his remarks, the deputy director said the objective of the workshop is to promote better health for youths living in the city, as the a survey has found that children living in Bangkok and its peripheral provinces are showing sign of obesity more than children in other provinces across the nation. Dr Danai said, the survey reported that the rate of obesity among city students presently stands at 19.9 per cent, due mainly to the consumption of snacks and the over indulgence of food in each meal. He then added that the survey has also found that 14.2 per cent of the children in Bangkok are also facing iron deficiency. The health deputy director pointed out that the workshop would help provide knowledge to teachers, health teachers, and education academicians, after which they could adapt and teach the same knowledge to the students, encouraging them to pack a healthy diet for lunch, while inspiring both the parents and students to adjust their consumption habits and promote more exercise among students age 4-12 years old. The workshop was attended by around 200 teachers from Bangkok and its peripheral provinces. (TNA)