10+ years ago, you never saw a chubby person in rural Isaan (I am using the word chubby to be polite).
Fast forward to 2026 and you see chubby people everywhere, specially children.
With no facts behind this claim, my observation is that since 7 Eleven came to the village, kids have swapped eating at home for junk food from 7 Eleven.
I am up early every morning and witness mothers running into 7 Eleven with the kids, getting them something to eat before they go to school.
Potato chips, cakes, candy, sugary drinks for breakfast.
10+ years ago there was no option for this junk food and people couldn’t afford it.
Now kids are seen gorging on junk food and snacking incessively.
In 2026 it is a completely different story.
7 Eleven may sell 1% of their inventory as healthy food, but this is not what people are buying.
The Thai government published a report that stated over 10%+ of the kids in Thailand are clinically obese.
When you look at the reasons why that is so here in Isaan, is now they have 24 hour access to junk food from 7 Eleven.
Combining junk food with living on their smart phones and never exercising, and you have creating a whole new problem.
Processed meat on a stick vendors, ice cream and sugary drink vendors are also to blame as these vendors set up right outside the school gate and catch the kids leaving school.
This chubbiness is not prevalent in rural families who are too poor to buy this junk food.