Prevalence and Predictors for Use of Dietary Supplements among Young Adult Gym Enthusiasts: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Dietary supplements are increasingly used by young gym-going adults in urban India who are influenced by fitness trends, social media, and the desire to emulate an idealised physique. Indiscriminate, unsupervised use of these products has been linked to gastric disturbances, allergies, and hepatic and renal complications. Data on the prevalence and predictors of such use among Indian gym-goers remain limited. The objective is to determine the prevalence of dietary supplement use among young adult gym-goers, and to assess the predictors influencing their decision to use dietary supplements. Material and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted over two months among 208 regular gym-goers (18–30 years) attending gyms and fitness centres in and around Visakhapatnam, selected by purposive sampling. Data were collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 21.0. Categorical variables were compared using the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test and Z –test with statistical significance set at p<0.05. Results: The prevalence of dietary supplement use was 79.3%. Protein powder was the most commonly used supplement (75.96%), followed by vitamins (36.06%) and creatine (35.58%). Most users (65.9%) had been using supplements for less than six months, and 68% consumed them daily. Gym trainers (32.2%) were the leading source of information, and 55.8% of purchases were made online. Improvement in overall health (58.17%) was the most cited reason for use. Awareness of side effects was reported by 66% of participants, although only 7% had actually experienced any. No statistically significant association was found between dietary supplement use and demographic characteristics (age, gender, education). However, a significant association was observed between supplement use and the importance placed on being in good shape (p=0.001), and the belief that supplements are necessary to achieve fitness goals (p=0.045). Creatine use showed a significant association with male gender (Z=4.82). Conclusion: Dietary supplement use is highly prevalent among young adult gym-goers in this urban Indian setting and is driven predominantly by psychological and body-image-related predictors rather than demographic factors. Structured educational interventions involving certified trainers and nutrition experts are warranted to promote safe and informed supplement use.

Keywords: Cross-sectional studies; Dietary supplements; Gym enthusiasts; Predictors; Prevalence; Protein powder; Young adults.