Review of empowered running events as physical activity promotion for NCDs prevention in Thailand

Mini-Oral Presentation A3.16

Authors

  • Sarocha Kesaro Thailand Physical Activity Knowledge Development Centre (TPAK); Mahidol University
  • Narong Tiemmek Thai Jogging Federation Foundation
  • Piroj Saonuam Thai Health Promotion Foundation
  • Niramon Rasri Thai Health Promotion Foundation

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.457

Keywords:

Physical Activity, Running, NCDs

Abstract

Background: Running boom in the early 2000s campaigned by Thai Health Promotion Foundation (Thai Health) and Thai Jogging Federation Foundation (TJF) emerged as Physical Activity promotion for NCDs prevention in Thailand. Program Delivery: Health promotion campaigns by running program aimed to: 1) encourage new runners to shift their unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, unhealthy diet, and lack of physical activity; and 2) to promote healthy lifestyle by knowledge distribution, social bridging, and policy drive. The campaigns were channeled via diverse routes i.e. challenges, film, charity, social media and role models. Evaluation: The two-decade-review collected data from documentary research, in-depth-interview and focus group discussion. The sources were from Thai Health and Ministry of Public Health. The ongoing TJF’s campaign has increased the number of Thais running from 5 million in 2007 to 10 million in 2017. The proportion of Thais who engaged in walking/running as their regular physical activity rose from 15.4 percent in 2014 to 18.2 percent in 2016 and is likely to increase steadily to 23.1 percent and 24.4 percent in 2017 and 2018 respectively. The health promotion campaigns also have helped to prevent 400,236 NCDs cases among Thai population by averting 222,441 cases of diabetes, 79,748 cases of ischemic heart disease, 78,246 cases of stroke and 19,802 cases of colorectal cancer. Conclusions: The impact of empowered running as health promotion campaigns was not only the increase of the number of people participated in running events or engaged in regular physical activity, but also in reducing NCDs risks.

Published

2021-09-30

How to Cite

Kesaro, S., Tiemmek, N., Saonuam, P., & Rasri, N. (2021). Review of empowered running events as physical activity promotion for NCDs prevention in Thailand: Mini-Oral Presentation A3.16. The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.457