Abstract
An unhealthy diet is a major risk factor of obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The diet-related health problems are increasing continually in Thailand. This study aimed to assess the association between dietary patterns of Thai adults (15 years old and above) and their demographic, socio-economic and health status. In this study, the dietary patterns asked on daily consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), and adequate intake of fruits and vegetables (FVs) at least 4 ladles and above per day. The data, obtained from the 2015 National Health and Welfare Survey, were ana¬lyzed using descriptive data analysis and multiple logistic regression. The results show that Thai adults aged 15-24 years old were more likely to drink SSBs and to consume less than 4 ladles a day of FVs compared to other age groups. Government/state and private employees were more likely to drink SSBs every day than the business owners. Compared to the poorest, people with higher economic status were more likely to drink SSBs daily. The findings suggest that nutrition policy should focus in¬tensively on high risk groups including students, government/state and private employees and people with high ability to pay for SSBs. Potential interventions include a comprehensive nutrition promotion program in and around education institutions as well as in workplace. Pricing and taxation and social marketing campaign are also the promising strategies to promote the consumption of healthy diet among Thai population.
