Behind the gates of Wat Yannawa temple, barefoot monks emerge, their saffron robes a pop of color in the early morning light. From the
youngest to the oldest, they do this same routine every day: collect
alms, or offerings, from the Buddhist faithful.
In metal pails that sway near their hips as they walk, they collect food, drinks and the occasional cash donation for the temple. They pray
with the person who offers it, and then return home to prepare the meal
with what they've been given.
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, either processed or homemade -- with the
Buddhist faithful wanting to offer something of high value and taste.
The monks are also forbidden from eating anything after 12 p.m., having only one or two meals a day between the hours of 6 a.m. and noon.
This means it's hard for monks to change their diet.
Professor Jongjit Angkatavanich, a pharmacist, dietician, and nutritionist who has been studying the health of Thailand's monks for
the past eight years, describes the situation as a "ticking time bomb."
"When we look at the obesity rate, it's kind of like the first landmark that we used as an indicator," Jongjit said.
The monks are experiencing conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, eye issues and osteoarthritis in knees, but they know very
little about them.
For example, one of the most shocking things Jongjit has seen is monks with amputated toes and feet because of diabetes, but the monks
had no knowledge of the condition -- many had never even heard of
diabetes.
Obesity rates among Thailand's monks are higher than the wider population -- 48% of them are obese compared to 39% of the Thai male
population, according to Jongjit's research. While people might think
the monks are simply eating more, Jongjit said that isn't the case. The
monks consume 150 less calories than Thai men.
So what's happening to Thailand's monks?
"After midday, they have to rely on a drink or beverage," Jongjit explained. "It has changed over time, from the ancient time -- right
now, it is a soda, a soft drink, a sweetened beverage."
What's more, she said, is the monks often consume the sugary drinks on an empty stomach. "The sugar in the liquid is absorbed faster," she
said. "It means the effect or consequence of the added sugar is even
worse for a monk."
To complicate matters even further, the monks aren't supposed to exercise -- it's considered vain. Navigating those restrictions is an
important part of the long-term solution.
Somdet Phra Mahathirajarn is the Abbot of Yannawa temple -- its highest-ranking monk. He's been leading the charge in implementing
changes suggested by Jongjit and her team, including finding a way
around the exercise restrictions and healthier menu options for the
novice monks' midday meal, as the novices get one meal prepared by the
temple before noon in addition to the morning alms.
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