The study analysed expenditure on 13 food groups across 19 HSES waves, with 257-item detail in 2011, 2015 and 2019. Principal component analysis derived food-consumption and expenditure-composition patterns across time, place and socioeconomic groups.
Key findings
- Patterns included traditional Thai, mixed/diverse, convenience/prepared and alcohol/lifestyle diets, plus a meat-dominant pattern in detailed waves. Dietary diversity correlated positively with traditional and mixed diets but weakly or negatively with convenience patterns.
Why this matters globally
Nutrition transition driven by urbanisation and globalisation is common internationally. The Thai evidence shows that change is regionally uneven and policy must address price, time, availability and culture together.
Thai researcher contribution
Mahidol University-linked researchers used long-running Thai national surveys to map household food transitions.
Limitations to consider
Expenditure does not capture quantity, nutrients, intra-household allocation or non-purchased foods. PCA patterns depend on variable choice, and price changes can affect trends. Individual health outcomes cannot be inferred.