Meals, Media and Moods: Understanding the Psychology of Eating and Designing Behaviour Focused Nutrition Interventions

Eating behaviours are shaped by a complex interplay of screen exposure, sleep, physical activity, psychosocial stressors, and the food environment. This session will draw insights from multiple studies conducted by Dr Moitra and colleagues to systematically examine how these behavioural and environmental factors influence dietary choices, adiposity, and mental health among urban youth. Evidence from cross-sectional surveys, focus group discussions, validation of novel assessment tools, and behaviour-focused education interventions will be synthesised and presented.

The session will explore the socio-environmental correlates of snacking behaviours, highlight the link between excessive screen time, unhealthy eating habits, disrupted sleep, and increased adiposity, and demonstrate the bidirectional relationship between stress, anxiety and food choices. The findings will underscore why addressing food environments, screen habits, sleep hygiene, and the emotional drivers of eating—rather than focusing solely on health and nutrition knowledge- is essential for sustained behaviour change.  Through data-driven insights, practical examples and interaction with attendees, the session will offer actionable guidance for designing effective, behaviour-centred nutrition programmes that bridge the gap between awareness and action and promote long-term improvements in diet-related health outcomes.

The findings will underscore the importance of addressing food environments, screen behaviours, sleep hygiene, and mental health drivers—rather than focusing solely on health and nutrition knowledge to generate sustained behaviour change. Through data, discussions, and a deliberate emphasis on strategies that bridge the gap between awareness and action, the session aims to offer actionable guidance for designing effective nutrition programs that improve dietary choices and long-term health outcomes.