SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM AND MALNUTRITION PROBLEMS AMONG STUDENTS IN THAILAND

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between Thailand’s school lunch program and the nutritional status of primary school students, using panel data from the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) and the Equitable Education Fund (EEF) during 2017-2018. Employing a fixed effects regression model, the study controls for unobserved heterogeneity across students and schools. The results reveal that increased real spending on school lunches significantly reduces the likelihood of students being underweight, stunting or wasting. However, no statistically significant association was found with overweight or obesity. Additionally, household size expansion appears to increase the risk of undernutrition while reducing the risk of obesity—likely due to resource constraints within larger families. These findings underscore the critical role of budget adequacy and quality implementation in school lunch programs as effective mechanisms to combat malnutrition. The study provides policy recommendations, including adjusting lunch subsidies based on school size, supporting low-income families with many children, and promoting nutrition education and physical activity in schools to ensure holistic student health.