Enquête sur l’état de connaissance des sources végétales des compléments alimentaires utilisées pour des fins amaigrissantes chez les professionnels de santé dans la wilaya de Sétif

Abstract

The desire to lose weight and the fight against weight gain and obesity is a real global public health issue. There is a strong craze these days for dietary supplements, which are taking up an increasingly important place on the shelves of pharmacies and pharmacies, and advertising for them continues to grow. Unlike weight-loss practices and diets, the trend is towards herbal medicine. We are therefore talking about plant-based slimming dietary supplements. However, despite the plant origin of these supplements, they are not harmless. Faced with these new practices, healthcare professionals have a key role to play in ensuring the effectiveness and safety of these supplements through their knowledge and appropriate advice. The main objective of this study is to assess the state of knowledge of plant sources used in slimming food supplements among health professionals residing in the Wilaya of Sétif. A survey was conducted among this population The analysis of the results shows that the population surveyed is predominantly female (83.75%) and respondents aged 20 to 30 are the most represented (87.50%). On the professional level, the majority of participants are general practitioners (55.00%), and 87.00% of them have been working for less than 05 years. Regarding the place of practice, 41.25% report working in unspecified structures. Regarding the usefulness of slimming food supplements, 36.25% of the professionals surveyed say they recommend them occasionally, while 27.50% do so more regularly. In addition, vitamin supplements and fiber are the most frequently cited (17.50%). Regarding the knowledge of the plants used in these supplements, 85.00% of respondents stated that they did not know them precisely, while the most well-known plant is green tea (38.75%). Also, 51.25% of respondents consider these products effective in weight loss.On the other hand, statistical analysis highlighted several significant relationships and reveals that practitioners in private practice mainly recommend fibers and vitamins, professionals in hospitals or clinics have a better knowledge of these supplements, green tea is the most cited by practitioners in hospitals and clinics. On the other hand, it is noted that the workplace influences both the choice of the nature of the plants used, the type of supplement recommended and the state of knowledge of the plants used. In conclusion, it is essential to benefit from monitoring provided by health practitioners in order to avoid the risks associated with overconsumption of food supplements in the context of weight loss.