Overview

• LocalCircles polled over 84,000 consumers across 303 districts and found a surge in frequent sweet intake, with 74% of urban households eating traditional sweets three or more times a month and 79% doing so for packaged treats, including 5% and 11% reporting daily use.
• About 70% of respondents say they would likely switch to products with roughly 30% less sugar if better-quality options were available, indicating a clear opening for manufacturers.
• Roughly 43% of urban households acknowledge that most members are addicted to sugar or sugary products, underscoring how entrenched the habit has become.
• Doctors caution that festive overindulgence can destabilize blood glucose and raise cardiometabolic risks, recommending portion control, pairing sweets with protein or fibre, light post‑meal activity, hydration and regular monitoring.
• City-level snapshots such as Hyderabad mirror the national trend, with high reported frequencies of sweet consumption and notable willingness to opt for lower‑sugar alternatives.