FACTORS INFLUENCING FOOD CONSUMPTION BEHAVIOR IN BUDDHIST MONKS WITH NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Abstract

             This research was aimed to study factors influencing food consumption behavior and health status in Buddhist’s monk with non-communicable diseases. The population for this study will be the monks and select by purposive to recruit the participants who were meet the inclusion criteria such as Diabetes mellitus, Heart disease, Hypertension, Cancer and so on. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistic and qualitative method.
The result were as, food consumption behavior of Buddhist monks when considered by the questionnaire showed that most monks consume know the best food for themselves. They usually consume healthy and variety food with the highest scores. The monks select kind of vegetable and low sugar fruit such as apple, and papaya. They drink 6-8 glasses of water per day. However there are many of participants perform inappropriate behavior regarding food consumption such as eating instant food and fast food, very sweet dessert because of delicious. This result represent most participants have knowledge related to selecting beneficial food. Buddhist monk necessary to receive food from people. The monk cannot avoid having food that offer by the Buddhist and most of them lack of exercise. The major point which made them got disease is beverage, drink, including water as well as any other liquid after lunch until midnight. This situation and health behavior have significantly for health promotion in Thailand population to select the healthy food especially beverage to avoid non-communicable diseases in monks.