ANNOUNCEMENTS
Obesity has become a serious public health concern in the twenty-first century. It is a major risk factor for a variety of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and PCOs. Agricultural Revolution, socio-economic changes, trade policies, liberalization, advancement in food technologies and preservation techniques, gave rise to super-markets, year-round availability of food and aggressive food marketing which initiated a dietary shift. There was a transition from seasonal and regional food towards an increase in the consumption of processed food containing high amounts of salt, sugar and fat. This shift in dietary choices and patterns of overconsumption, as well as the evolution of the food system, has resulted in an alarming increase in the incidence of overweight and obesity around the world. Furthermore, the transition to a more sedentary lifestyle, such as increased working hours that require sitting for long periods of time, has added to the strain. Now people have less time to prepare freshly cooked meals and instead prefer ordering food from outside or rather consume instant or packaged food. Eating has become more of a pleasurable activity rather than something to fuel our bodies with nutrition. Therefore, this study tries to analyze the routine dietary pattern of the working population of people aged 18 years and above and understand their motivational factors and what kind of barriers they face in following a healthy diet. It is crucial for public health authorities to disseminate information regarding the right lifestyle practices to combat obesity and diseases associated with it. Moreover, the study also aims to develop a family driven behavioral intervention tool which emphasizes on corrective eating behavior. Several studies have shown that behavioral interventions promote sustainable changes in positive health behavior hence, an effective strategy is required to address the problem of obesity. Since, it is a novel approach to reduce obesity in Indian settings, it will help the researchers to further develop into an effective measure and incorporate in the healthcare system.
Keywords: Obesity, dietary pattern, Behavioral change, Intervention.
