Scientific Poster Session I - Original Research

Original Research
  Saturday, October 12, 2024
  11:30 AM–01:00 PM

Abstract

Introduction:

Dietary supplements continue to be used for a variety of health conditions. However, limited data are available about the patterns of their use for weight loss among adults with obesity.

Research Question or Hypothesis:

What are the patterns of dietary supplement use for weight loss among individuals with obesity?

Study Design:

A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Methods:

NHANES included initial home interviews followed by physical and laboratory tests in a mobile examination center. We extracted demographic and dietary data from NHANES collected during 2011 to 2018. Inclusion criteria were adults (age = 20) with a body mass index (BMI) = 30 kg/m² who reported using supplements for weight loss. The Mann–Whitney U test was applied to identify statistically significant differences between groups, using a 2-sided p-value < 0.05 to establish significance. Weighting was applied to participant data to account for unequal sampling probabilities and non-response.

Results:

Of the 37,775 participants, 13,695 had the diagnosis of obesity. A total of 493 (3.6%) individuals reported using dietary supplements for weight loss. The most popular supplements were herbal products, vitamins/minerals, fish oil, amino acids, and probiotics/prebiotics/fiber. Among the herbal products, garcinia, green coffee, and green tea were the most frequently used. Notably, 86.4% of supplement users took the supplements without medical advice, while only 13.6% followed the doctor’s recommendation. Women, white individuals, and younger adults were more likely to use supplements for weight loss compared to men, other races, and older age group.

Conclusion:

The study demonstrated that over 86% of individuals used dietary supplements without medical guidance and identified most commonly used products and the groups of individuals frequently using them. These findings highlight the need for enhanced education and oversight to ensure that consumers are well-informed about the potential benefits and risks of using dietary supplements for weight loss.

Presenting Author

Ligang Liu PharmD
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Authors

Milap C. Nahata PharmD, MS
The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy

Heqing Tao MD
Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University