A CROSS-SECTIONAL INVESTIGATION ON THE PREVALENCE AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE CONSUMPTION OF SPORTS NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS AND IT'S PROBABLE REASONS AMONG ELITE WEIGHTLIFTERS

Background: The consumption of sports nutritional supplements is prevalent among athletes, particularly weightlifters, to meet the physical and mental demands of their sport. These supplements are often used to enhance performance, improve recovery, and optimize health. However, excessive reliance on supplements and insufficient awareness of their potential risks pose significant health concerns. Understanding the prevalence, attitudes, and reasons for supplement use is crucial for promoting safer practices and informed decision-making among elite weightlifters. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, attitudes, and reasons for sports nutritional supplement consumption among elite weightlifters to provide insights into their practices and perceptions. Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed, involving 100 professional weightlifters (mean age: 32.5 years) from five weightlifting clubs in Lahore, Pakistan. Data were collected using a self-developed demographic questionnaire and the Dietary Supplement Scale. The scale assessed the prevalence of supplement consumption, attitudes toward use, and reasons for consumption. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 22, with descriptive statistics summarizing findings. Results: All participants (100%) reported consuming sports nutritional supplements, with the most consumed being multivitamins (84%), vitamin D (84%), and amino acids (62%). Sports drinks were consumed by 65%, while 51% used creatine. The primary reasons for supplement use included improvements in health (46%), performance (29%), recovery (16%), and physical appearance (6%). Coaches were identified as the main source of knowledge for 74% of participants. Additionally, 90% of participants reported enhanced endurance, energy, strength, and focus as benefits of supplement use. Conclusion: The study highlighted widespread supplement use among elite weightlifters, driven by limited awareness of potential risks and the influence of coaches. These findings underscore the need for targeted educational programs for athletes and coaches to promote safer and more informed supplement practices.