Results: Thailand is putting its Buddhist monks on a diet!
Published on 11/22/2019
More than 90% of Thailand's population follows Buddhism and the monks here are held in high regard, but there is growing concern about their health: Thailand's monks are gaining too much weight. Thailand's National Health Commission Office says there are nearly 349,000 monks in Thailand, and almost half are considered overweight or obese.
There are several factors, but it largely centers around the morning routine -- and the changing nature of the offerings placed into the monk's pails.
The monks aren't able to control their own diet -- it's at the mercy of the offerings they receive each morning. Traditionally, those alms are calorie-rich foods. Eager believers often hand out rich meals or sugary snacks in an effort to please

QUESTIONS
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Comments
1.
1.
Do you think the calorie rich food (fast food) that we eat today is responsible for the obesity we see in this world?
Yes
68%
2173 votes
No
12%
389 votes
Undecided
19%
613 votes
2.
2.
According to Professor Jongjit Angkatavanich from Thailand, the monks are experiencing conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, eye issues and osteoarthritis in knees. Do you agree that receiving fast food as the alms is causing these chronic health conditions among Buddhist monks? Yes
53%
1672 votes
No
12%
387 votes
Undecided
35%
1116 votes
3.
3.
Do you think that monks/priests should avoid eating outside food (and cook their own)? Yes
51%
1621 votes
No
16%
512 votes
Undecided
33%
1042 votes
4.
4.
Do you think that just dieting can help someone with losing weight? Yes
43%
1379 votes
No
35%
1101 votes
Undecided
22%
695 votes
5.
5.
Would you consider the donors (that donate fast food to monks) responsible for ruining these monks health? Yes
27%
872 votes
No
38%
1205 votes
Undecided
35%
1098 votes
COMMENTS