Bangkok launches citywide commitment to healthier neighbourhoods

In cities around the world, rising obesity rates pose an urgent public health challenge – and Bangkok is no exception. With more than half of Bangkok’s residents¹ – and one in five children – living with overweight or obesity², the city faces a looming health crisis. These trends not only threaten quality of life but also drive serious diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Now, Bangkok is taking action with an initiative to make healthy living a part of everyday city life, aiming to build neighbourhoods where children and families can truly thrive.

This week, Bangkok became the first city in Thailand to join Cities for Better Health, marking the start of a citywide push to enhance health and well-being. By joining the global network of more than 50 other cities, Bangkok demonstrates a strong commitment to reshaping everyday environments, making healthier choices easier for residents across the city.

Anchored in a Memorandum of Understanding between the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Royal Danish Embassy in Bangkok and Novo Nordisk, the partnership is bringing new energy and focus to improving urban health.

Children are at the centre of Bangkok’s approach. Across schools in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area (BMA), the city is rolling out a new interactive Childhood Obesity Curriculum developed by the BMA Department of Education, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and Nudge Thailand.

Through hands-on activities, students learn about food, movement and wellbeing in interactive ways designed to be engaging and relevant to their daily lives. The city is also strengthening the nutritional quality and safety of school meals to create healthier food environments throughout the school day and help children build healthy eating habits.

The citywide health drive also extends into Bangkok’s public spaces. Inspired by Copenhagen’s Spor10 project, which transformed a former railway district into a community space for movement and play, Bangkok plans to expand movement-friendly areas. Lumphini Park and Benchakitti Park, two of Bangkok’s largest green spaces, will soon feature new recreation zones aimed at getting people of all ages moving. Planned park upgrades include new pickleball courts and outdoor “muscle-training” gyms, providing residents with more opportunities to be active and connect.

The launch of Cities for Better Health in Bangkok reflects a shared ambition to create healthier urban environments across the city. “Today, we take a monumental step forward in prioritising the health of the people of Bangkok. Through this partnership, we are not only raising awareness about obesity and cardiometabolic diseases but also equipping our future generations with the tools they need to lead healthier lives. This is our commitment to fostering a healthier Bangkok,” said Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok.

Working alongside the Royal Danish Embassy and other local partners, Bangkok is uniting schools and communities behind a shared purpose: building a city where everyone can be healthy and thrive. 

1.  Data on file of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Health Screenings, https://health2.bangkok.go.th/, accessed 16 October 2025.
2.  The Standard Team. “BMA introduces proactive obesity prevention plan reducing prevalent rate among people and students in Bangkok.” THE STANDARD, May 7, 2025. https://thestandard.co/bma-obesity-prevention-plan/.