Obesogenic Food Cues and Increasing Body Weight Among Adults’ Male and Female: A Cross-Sectional Study in Mysore City in South India

The escalating prevalence of obesity globally underscores the urgency to investigate environmental contributors to obesogenic conditions. This study investigates the link between obesogenic food cues and increased body weight in Mysore city, South India, where such research is limited. A cross- sectional observational study with 444 adult participants was conducted. Data on socio-demographics, anthropometrics (weight and height) and exposure to food cues were collected. Our findings show a positive association between higher body weight and heightened responsiveness to obesogenic food cues, particularly among females. Food cues significantly impacted food perception and eating behaviors, especially in overweight and obese individuals. Principle Component Analysis revealed strong associations between food environments and body weight status. The findings emphasize the importance of targeted interventions addressing environmental influences on dietary behaviors for effective obesity prevention and management. Understanding the role of obesogenic food cues in shaping dietary habits is crucial for developing public health strategies, particularly in culturally diverse contexts like Mysore city, to promote healthier eating habits and combat obesity.