Healthy lifestyle and opinion seeking in the consumption of food supplements

Abstract

Purpose – This research aimed to verify the influence of healthy lifestyle and the search for opinion in relation to the intention to consume food supplements.Design/methodology/approach – A descriptive research was carried out using a quantitative approach. The field research was developed through an online survey and the data were analyzed using multiple linear regression.Findings – It was found that the higher the level of healthy lifestyle, the greater the intention to resort to food supplementation. Furthermore, the search for opinion, in turn, positively influenced the intention to consume food supplements. However, this search for opinion is intrinsically related to the search for information from sources not indicated to direct the consumption of dietary supplements, which represents a risk to health.Originality/value – The main contribution of this research was that the experience of a healthy lifestyle does not represent the absence of consumption of dietary supplements. The results reveal an alarming situation regarding the health risks to which consumers of dietary supplements are exposed. These risks are also related to people with a high level of healthy lifestyle. Thus, this picture represents a public health problem and refers to the urgent need for information and awareness-raising actions for the population in order to control the incidence of diseases associated with the consumption of these products.

Aspects Regarding the Consumption of Dietary Supplements among the Active Population in Romania

“…According to previous research, supplement use rises with age; women are more likely than men to use supplements, and people who routinely exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle report the lowest prevalence of supplement use [37][38][39]. In addition, a healthy lifestyle implies a healthy diet and it is understood that followers of this lifestyle will not seek to use dietary supplements [40][41][42].…”

Analysis of Actual Fitness Supplement Consumption among Health and Fitness Enthusiasts

“…Individuals leading luxurious lifestyles tend to exhibit a higher inclination toward the use of supplements [14], indicating a correlation between lifestyle and the tendency to use supplements. Nagar [15] found attitude to be the most influencing predictor of consumers' consumption intention of gym supplements, implying that customers' attitudes can be affected by risk and benefits, social influence, and health consciousness.…”