An Analytical Study of the Status, Awareness, and Attitudes Toward Self-Medicated Use of Supplements and Its Effects on the Health of Bodybuilding Athletes in Afghanistan
Key words: Athlete health, Bodybuilding, Supplements, Unsupervised consumption
Romal Akbari
Abstract
With the growing use of supplements among athletes, particularly in bodybuilding, concerns have increased regarding the self-administered consumption of these compounds without consulting professionals. This study aimed to examine the status and patterns of self-medicated supplement use, the level of awareness and attitudes of bodybuilding athletes, and the physical, psychological, and social consequences associated with such use. Additionally, it analyzed the factors influencing supplement consumption among bodybuilding athletes in Afghanistan. The research employed a descriptive–analytical, cross-sectional design. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire, whose face and content validity were confirmed, and distributed among 360 bodybuilding athletes from various provinces of Afghanistan. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 26), applying descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients. Results indicated that approximately 70% of respondents had a history of using at least one type of supplement, with protein v and creatine being the most commonly consumed. Only 17.5% had consulted a doctor or specialist before consumption. Environmental factors, such as recommendations from coaches, peers, and advertisements, played a prominent role in the inclination to use supplements. Among the reported consequences, issues such as insomnia, kidney pain, and heart palpitations, as well as psychological dependence, were most frequent. Moreover, a significant negative correlation was observed between the level of awareness and the severity of physical side effects (r = -0.42). Positive attitudes toward supplements and social pressure were also directly associated with increased consumption. These findings highlight the urgent need for structured educational programs, evidence-based awareness campaigns, strengthened pre-consumption health counseling, and the development of strict regulatory policies regarding the distribution and promotion of supplements.
