In 10 years, Thais will be slimmer, taller and smarter if they get a more nutritious start to life, health officials said yesterday.
Speaking at a conference on child development today, Narong Saiwong of the Public Health Ministry laid out goals to reduce obesity and increase both height and intelligence.
He wants to reduce obesity in the youth population by 0.5 percent, and see women and men grow to an average 165 centimeters and 175 centimeters, respectively. In May, the ministry lamented the decline in average IQ to 93.1 from 94. Narong wants that to see that cross the 100-point threshold in a decade’s time.
Improving child nutrition is important to achieving this, he said, pointing to nationwide child care centers funded by the ministry to provide nutritious and healthy lunch menus. Nutritionists are to be hired at each center.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story indicated the conference occurred today. It was Thursday.
Photo: Hanumann
