Advancing population health through the Development of Thailand Recommendations on Physical Activity, Non-Sedentary Lifestyles, and Sleeping for Health

Abstract

Thailand Recommendations on Physical Activity, Non-Sedentary Lifestyles, and Sleeping for Health was developed in 2016. This article reviews the processes and contents of recommendations, as well as the evolution of global and domestic recommendations. Academic cooperation from relevant stakeholders was the core of development processes through documents review, consultation meetings, on-field research, public communication, and capacity building. The contents of recommendations were in line with global and international recommendations and comprehensively covered all subpopulations i.e. pregnant and postpartum women, young children, children and adolescents, adults, older adults, farmers, fishermen, drivers, and office-based employee, as well as all physical activity dimensions i.e. aerobic, muscle strengthening and stretching, sedentary behavior, and sleeping. These recommendations brought benefits to national physical activity advocacy i.e. goals setting in the National Physical Activity Strategy, communication and campaign, and international role model. There are needs for regular update on the recommendation from time to time based on situational, contextual, and academic changes in both global and domestic levels