Fifty-four per cent Indian respondents have issues with their weight. According to
Nielsen's Global Online Consumer Survey that periodically tracks global trends and regional preferences, 44 per cent think they are overweight and 10 per cent think that they are underweight. 46 per cent Indian respondents think that they are about the right weight.

When asked about their intention to lose weight, 48 per cent respondents said that they are currently trying to lose weight. India ranks tenth globally amongst countries that think they are underweight. The survey, conducted in 52 countries, indicate that there is a global appetite for improving health through better diet and exercise.

''Indians obsess with weight loss, the number of fitness organisations that have cropped up in the past couple of years are testimony to that. Moreover, eating habits and sedentary lifestyles have led to weight problems for a lot of Indians,'' said Vatsala Pant, associate director, The Nielsen Company.

Indians are adopting various methods to reduce their weight. 79 per cent respondents plan to exercise more, the second highest percentage for a country globally after New Zealand (86), that is planning to exercise more to lose weight. 69 per cent of Indians are changing their diet plans to lose weight. Four per cent are taking diet pills/ bars/ shakes and two per cent are even taking medicines prescribed by their doctor.

After exercise, changing ones diet seems to be the most preferred option by Indians to lose weight. They are adopting all kinds of measures from cutting down on fats (84 per cent), to cutting down on chocolates, sugar, etc (71 per cent).

61 per cent Indians are eating more natural fresh foods, 40 per cent believe in eating the same food but cutting down on the portions, and 36 per cent of Indian respondents are eating less processed foods. Some are also following various diet plans, the Atkins Diet (low carbohydrate, high fat diet) being a favourite for 12 per cent of Indian respondents. Six per cent of Indians use Weight Watchers or other slimming programmes.

''Though exercise seems to be one of the most effective ways of losing weight, few people have
managed to slot time for it into their busy schedules. Hence the next good option to lose weight is to control ones' diet,'' continued Pant.

The majority of Indians take some form of exercise regularly. 22 per cent of Indians exercise daily and the same percentage of respondents exercise once or twice a week. Only 20 per cent of respondents said they never exercise. On days that they do exercise, 46 per cent said they exercise for 30 minutes to one hour and 43 per cent said they exercise for less than 30 minutes.

The kind of exercise respondents partake in also varies. 35 per cent of Indians prefer walking, while 18 per cent go to the gym, 17 per cent prefer yoga/ Pilates -- the highest for any country globally -- and 16 per cent like running/jogging. Other forms of exercise preferred by Indians are team sports (4 per cent), Aerobics (3 per cent), Racquet Sports (2 per cent), and Martial Arts (1 per cent). Surprisingly, Swimming is not preferred by Indians as an exercise option.

''Walking is far and away the exercise of choice across the world. It does not involve any formal training or special equipment. It is easy to do and less tiring than running or jogging,'' said Pant.

Roughly half of the Indian consumers are confused by the barrage of diet and healthy eating information available in the marketplace, much of it conflicting. When asked where they got the best information about diet and healthy eating, 61 per cent cited Doctors and Medical professionals as their source. Other sources of information mentioned were the Internet (47 per cent), family (29 per cent), TV programs and documentaries (27 per cent), Nutrition information on packages (27 per cent), Books (24 per cent), Magazines (23 per cent), Newspapers (21 per cent), Friends (14 per cent), and Information at the purchase site in supermarket brochures and flyers (5 per cent).