Knowledge and practice about non-prescription weight loss supplements utilization among university students.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, knowledge, and practices related to non-prescribed weight loss supplements among university students, and to identify reported side effects to support targeted health education.

Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among students at a public Egyptian university using a self-administered bilingual (English and Arabic) questionnaire. A total of 437 male and female undergraduates from all academic years were selected through multistage random sampling technique. Sample size was calculated via OpenEpi (v24.1), and data were analyzed using SPSS (v25).

Results: The prevalence of weight loss supplement use among students was 12.6 %. Among users, 43.6 % self-prescribed these products, and 80 % were females. Social media and family recommendations were key influencing sources for nearly 60 % of users. Moreover, 40 % of users reported experiencing side effects. The mean knowledge score among all participants was 3.15 ± 0.89 out of 4.

Conclusions: The findings indicate that 12.6 % of university students use weight loss supplements, and 43.6 % of them consume these products without medical consultation. The gap between knowledge and practice highlights the need for targeted awareness campaigns and stricter regulation.