title: Evolving food retail environments in Thailand and implications for the health and nutrition transition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate evolving food retail systems in Thailand.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rapid assessment procedures based on qualitative research methods including interviews, focus groups discussions and site visits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven fresh markets located in the four main regions of Thailand.
  
  
  METHODS
  Managers, food specialists, vendors and shoppers from seven fresh markets who participated in interviews and focus group discussions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fresh markets are under economic pressure and are declining in number. They are attempting to resist the competition from supermarkets by improving convenience, food diversity, quality and safety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obesity has increased in Thailand at the same time as rapid growth of modern food retail formats has occurred. As fresh markets are overtaken by supermarkets there is a likely loss of fresh, healthy, affordable food for poorer Thais, and a diminution of regional culinary culture, women's jobs and social capital, with implications for the health and nutrition transition in Thailand.
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Building 62, Canberra, Acton, ACT 0200, Australia. cathy.banwell@anu.edu.au
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Banwell
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: Sam-Ang
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Seubsman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pangsap
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sleigh
mesh_terms: D004777:Environment; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D059022:Food Safety; D005523:Food Supply / Q000191:economics*; D019456:Health Transition; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D040541:Marketing; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology