Representative image of an obese person checking weight.
Credit: iStock Image
Bengaluru: Easy access to unhealthy food and its affordability remains the top barriers to weight loss, 46 per cent of Bengaluru residents said in a survey conducted by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a non-profit health organisation.
Several recent surveys have also shown that the easy availability of packaged foods is contributing to obesity, even among children.
The PCRM survey, conducted across Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai, revealed that Bengaluru residents were the most aware of weight loss drugs, with a majority cautioning against their use without adequate medical advice.
More than half of the respondents said that they were willing to switch to plant-based alternatives to lose weight. Nearly 77 per cent prioritised long-term sustainability and believed that exercise programmes were the healthiest method for weight loss.
As more weight loss drugs, particularly injectables, enter the market, participants emphasised the need to promote awareness about natural approaches to weight loss.
"An overwhelming 97 per cent of respondents from Bengaluru agreed that Indians need to learn more about non-drug-based weight loss methods — the highest among all metros surveyed. Moreover, 91 per cent said they would rather adopt a plant-based diet than rely on injectables. This highlights a clear opportunity — people are ready to embrace healthier, diet-led approaches if they are empowered with evidence-based guidance,” said Dr Zeeshan Ali, nutrition researcher with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM).
The survey also found that while many residents attempt to lose weight, sustaining it over time remains a challenge. Though 89 per cent of participants said they had tried losing weight at least once, only 27 per cent had succeeded in keeping it off in the long term.
Close to 213 individuals from Bengaluru participated in the survey, which included an online interview component.