Thailand Faces surge in Fatal Diseases, Driven by Lifestyle Choices
Bangkok, Thailand – A new national survey reveals a concerning spike in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across Thailand, with rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension posing a meaningful threat to public health. The findings, published by the Bangkok Post, indicate a worrying trend especially impacting young adults and fueled by increasing alcohol consumption, tobacco use – including a dramatic rise in e-cigarette adoption – and declining physical activity.
The escalating health crisis threatens to strain Thailand’s healthcare system and diminish the nation’s economic productivity. while traditional smoking has seen a decrease from 25.3% in 2004 to 18.5%,the use of e-cigarettes has nearly tripled since 2020,reaching 2.8% in 2025. This surge translates to an estimated 60,000 e-cigarette users aged 10 to 14 and 840,000 aged 20 to 29. Dr. Roengrudee Patanavanich of Ramathibodi Hospital attributes the increase in NCDs to these lifestyle factors.
Excessive alcohol consumption has also risen, increasing from 10.9% in 2015 to 12.9%. Compounding the issue, the survey found that 42.6% of respondents reported insufficient physical activity, a significant increase from 30%. These trends are occurring alongside a sharp increase in obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, disproportionately affecting younger generations.
