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Following a meeting to plan a campaign against coronary heart disease to mark World Heart Day on September 30, Mongkol said about 38 million Thais are at risk of coronary heart disease if this situation remains unchanged and their life span will be shorter.

He said risky lifestyles and diets must be changed, such as by avoiding food that is too salty, sweet or fatty.

A policy-level solution for the elected government should be tax increases on food and drinks, especially carbonated soft drinks, snacks and fatty fast food.

Mongkol said the tax calculation should be according to the sugar ratio and nutritionists could help by considering which foods registered with the Food and Drug Administration were harmful to health.

"If such foods are pricey, people would consume less of them and reduce their health risks. They would turn to cheaper and nutritious food," he said, adding manufacturers should also be encouraged to use natural sweetening substances - for example, Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni - in traditional Thai sweets.