<p>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.</p>.<p>Several recent surveys have also shown that the easy availability of packaged foods is contributing to obesity, even among children.</p>.More than genetic factors, lifestyle, diet & nutrition play significant role in predicting obesity risk among Indians.<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>As more weight loss drugs, particularly injectables, enter the market, participants emphasised the need to promote awareness about natural approaches to weight loss.</p>.<p>"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).</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>Close to 213 individuals from Bengaluru participated in the survey, which included an online interview component.</p>
<p>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.</p>.<p>Several recent surveys have also shown that the easy availability of packaged foods is contributing to obesity, even among children.</p>.More than genetic factors, lifestyle, diet & nutrition play significant role in predicting obesity risk among Indians.<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>As more weight loss drugs, particularly injectables, enter the market, participants emphasised the need to promote awareness about natural approaches to weight loss.</p>.<p>"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).</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>Close to 213 individuals from Bengaluru participated in the survey, which included an online interview component.</p>