Using data collected from smartphones, researchers from Stanford University analysed how many steps more than 700,000 people from around the world took each day in a bid to try and find out which factors determine obesity levels.

The average number of steps taken by people worldwide was found to be 4,96 per day.

Hong Kong found to be the ‘fittest’ finishing at the top of the list with people taking an average of 6,880 steps per day.

Indonesia was found to be the laziest, taking the least amount of steps with an average of just 3,513.

Thailand was ranked in 31st place out of 46, with an average of 4,764 steps, just one place behind the United States in 30th which averaged 4,774 steps.

Thailand ranked considerably better than some of its Asean neighbours, with the Philippines ranked 43rd with an average of 4,008 steps and in 44th place was Malaysia with 3,963 steps.

Australia, Canada, New Zealand and India also fell below the average.

The study was published in the Nature journal and used data collected from the Argus app, which lets users track their daily activity, heart rate, food intake and sleep.

Interestingly, the results of the study found that ‘activity inequality’ was the highest importance rather than the average number of steps when it comes to determining obesity levels.

Countries with just a small gap between most and least active had low levels of obesity, while countries such as the USA and Mexico have similar averages, Mexico has a higher level of activity inequality, and as a result has higher obesity levels.

Gender was also a key factor. Countries higher levels of activity inequality found that women are less active than men, while countries with low levels of obesity found that men and women had similar amounts of activity.

“The study is 1,000 times larger than any previous study on human movement”, professor Scott Delp told the BBC.

“There have been wonderful health surveys done, but our new study provides data from more countries, many more subjects, and tracks people’s activity on an ongoing basis.

“This opens the door to new ways of doing science at a much larger scale than we have been able to do before.”

“Investigators have already gone to the prison to make sure she is detained for embezzlement charges too,” Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lt General Sanit Mahathavorn said Thursday. “We will also track down the other two suspects.”

Earlier this week, a court approved arrest warrants for lawyer Pisit Sammalert, his wife Pornpavee Chukaew and Thitapa Sawasdee in connection with Pisit’s failure to hand over Bt4million compensation to Porntip Chantarat and her daughter, Pattarada Kaewpong.

Porntip lost her husband and was injured in an accident 12 years ago. The accident seriously injured the couple’s baby and Pattarada has since become wheelchair-bound.

A transport firm responsible for the accident had been ordered to pay the victim’s family Bt4 million compensation. But Pisit allegedly duped Porntip into assigning him to pick up the compensation on her behalf. He then took most of the money for himself.

Pornpavee and Thitapa are his alleged accomplices.

Pisit and Thitapa are now believed to be on the run.

Metropolitan Police Division 7 chief Pol Maj General Thirapong Wongratpitak said Pisit cancelled his subscription to cell-phone services after the scandal broke.

“But we will go after him,” Thirapong said.

Local residents complained of too many monkeys, and too much monkey-theft mischief. The monkeys are getting used to the cages and Pantainorasingh Wildlife Sanctuary officials before they will be shut into the cages and transported to the Hua Hin Dog Shelter for sterilization by veterinarians from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and from Mahidol University.

The macaques would be allowed some time to rest at the shelter before being released back into their home habitat. Officials hope the sterilization program will control the macaque population.

And visitors age 50 and up from 14 other countries can apply for long-stay visas valid for up to 10 years.

Both measures are designed to fuel Thailand’s ambition to become a “medical and wellness” tourist destination and world-class medical hub.

As part of the Strategic Plan to Become a Medical Hub (2017-2026), the Cabinet has approved in principle the extended permission-to-stay for citizens of 19 countries identified as potential sources of medical tourists.

The Interior Ministry announced that visa-exempt entry for hospital care for patients from the CLMV countries and China who meet certain criteria is extended to 90 days effective immediately.

The same privilege – “meant to increase convenience of access to clinical care” – is also offered to as many as four people accompanying them.

Foreigners age 50 years or older from Britain, the United States, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, France, Australia, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, Finland, Denmark and Canada can apply for long-stay visas of up to 10 years.

Permission will initially be extended for five years, and an additional five years can be added for people who meet stated criteria and conditions.

The same privilege is offered to their spouse and children under 20.

The ministry said the measure would “hopefully lead to the increase of country income”.

The Public Health and Tourism and Sport ministries have been directed to work with relevant agencies in the public and private sectors to implement plans for developing the country’s medical-tourism capabilities.