Progress towards Achieving the Recommendations of the Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity: A Comprehensive Review and Analysis of Current Policies, Actions and Implementation Gaps in Thailand

Abstract

Despite a significant commitment to tackling childhood overweight and obesity, questions remain about the progress the Thai Government has made in implementing childhood obesity prevention policies and actions. This study aimed to review and assess the implementation of the government’s policies and actions for childhood obesity prevention in Thailand compared with the recommendations of the Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity and to identify the implementation gaps. Policy data were collected from governmental and NGO websites and publications and via direct contact with government officials. Stakeholder meetings were held to seek further information and advice on implementation gaps and to give recommendations. The analysis of each policy was conducted against pre-determined criteria formulated from literature assessments and stakeholder consultations. The policies and actions that were implemented by the Government were consistent with 33 broad policy actions and 55 specific policy actions. Preconception and pregnancy care was the policy area that was most implemented. Six broad policy actions were assessed as ‘high’ performance, these were: sugar-sweetened beverage taxation, nutrient labeling, nutrition guidance for preconception and pregnancy care, the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, regulatory measures for supporting maternal breastfeeding, and regulations on the marketing of complementary foods and beverages. Policy coherence and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) were identified as major implementation gaps. Increasing the effectiveness of childhood obesity prevention in Thailand will require national immediate attention towards building infrastructure to enhance coherence among the policies and to put in place M&E mechanisms for each policy.

A cluster randomized trial of a comprehensive intervention nesting family and clinic into school centered implementation to reduce myopia and obesity among children and adolescents in Beijing, China: study protocol

“…At the community and policy level, clinics working together with families and schools play a vital role in mitigating the risks associated with myopia and obesity. Community-based interventions, early detection, and referral to specialist care for further management are essential in identifying children at risk [41][42][43]. Although the previous researches demonstrate some evidence for the effectiveness of specific myopia or obesity interventions, almost no single intervention will be effective alone, thus, to address the issue comprehensively, it is necessary to integrate existing intervention techniques and summarize "22510SS" by using a social-ecological model (SEM) [44,45], which might help embed family and clinic into a school centered intervention to reduce myopia and obesity among children and adolescents.…”

Setting and prioritizing evidence-informed policies to control childhood obesity in Iran: a mixed Delphi and policy dialogue approach

“…This gives prominence to multidisciplinary approaches and interventions in tackling the growing prevalence of childhood obesity [4,6,22]. Several valuable efforts are underway to combat childhood obesity in Iran [23][24][25]; however, the alarming increase in this health problem highlights the need for more effective actions. Several gaps have been distinguished in the path that must be addressed to leverage the whole government and society approach.…”