In Thailand, even the monks are struggling with a modern excess. Bound by rules that limit when and what they can eat, many monks have become overweight, relying on sugary drinks and calorie-heavy offerings to get through long days of fasting and prayer. In this episode, we explore how rising wealth, changing diets, and ancient religious practices have collided to produce a quiet health crisis inside the monasteries. From government-led nutrition programs to efforts to educate lay donors about healthier almsgiving, the story follows attempts to help monks rediscover a literal “middle way”—one that honors spiritual discipline without sacrificing physical well-being, in a country grappling with obesity far beyond the temple walls.

https://www.economist.com/asia/2019/11/07/heavy-thai-monks-seek-enlightenment