Scientific Reports · 2 authors, 3 centres
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A mixed-methods study surveyed and interviewed 120 adults with excess weight in Kolkata to understand perceptions, environmental factors, and health complications related to obesity. The central finding was that participants commonly associated obesity with hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease, and identified factors like limited access to healthy foods and lack of awareness as key determinants.
This cross-sectional mixed-methods study used a concurrent design with quantitative surveys (n=120) and qualitative in-depth interviews (n=18) to investigate perceptions, environmental determinants, and health complications of excess weight among adults aged 25–54 in Kolkata, India. Participants confirmed associations between obesity and diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol, and heart disease. Hypertension was the most common self-reported existing complication. Environmental factors promoting obesity included lack of access to healthy foods, inadequate health awareness, and local weather. Participants suggested interventions like raising awareness, improving access to healthy foods, and regulating fast foods. The findings highlight the need for public health policies and environmental changes to address obesity in the Indian context.
