Self -Perception and Use of Nutritional Supplements in Gym Users

Abstract

Body image dissatisfaction can trigger excessive concern for physical appearance leading to indiscriminate use of nutritional supplements. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the perception and conformity of body image with the consumption of nutritional supplements in regular users of gyms in the Biobío Region, Chile. The research corresponds to a cross-sectional analytical study conducted in the second half of the year 2018, in 262 participants over 18 years old. A statistically significant association between the use of nutritional supplements and the perception of body image (OR 0.58, 95%CI 0.34–0.98; p = 0.045), and between the use of nutritional supplements and conformity with body image (OR 0.43, 95%CI 0.25-0.75; p = 0.003) was observed. In conclusion, the higher the body image dissatisfaction or the presence of an altered perception of body image, the higher the consumption of nutritional supplements.