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Public awareness of the abuse of herbs and drugs to decrease body weight: a novel national survey in Jordan

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Abstract

Objectives

The aim of this investigation was to measure the degree of public preferences regarding the various weight-loss practices and to assess the level of awareness regarding the risks and health hazards associated with the application of unhealthful measures to lose weight.

Methods

Approximately 30,000 individuals selected from various regions in Jordan filled in a self−reported questionnaire. Participants were interviewed by well–trained senior pharmacy students and were asked to report their response to various aspects regarding body weight-loss practices.

Results

Of the respondents, 74.55% agreed that dietary restriction is the major intervention to lose weight. A modest majority of respondents (39.09%) believed that nervousness and irritability are serious drawbacks for uncontrolled administration of the hormone thyroxine. The highest percentage of responding females (67.12%) reported diarrhea as a major adverse effect to laxative abuse.

Discussion

The availability and the number of adverse events associated with herbal and dietary supplements to lose weight are on the rise. Obese patients should consider realistic expectations and be encouraged to follow healthy lifestyle interventions. Health care professionals are best suited to educate obese patients about unhealthy practices like laxative and diuretic abuse.

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Acknowledgement

We are most grateful to all persons who participated in this investigation and in particular our senior pharmacy students at Jordan University of Science and Technology.

Conflict of interest statement

No presentation of the work has been conducted. No source of support or grant was obtained. No conflict of interest relevant to this research exists.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science & Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan

    Saafan A. Al-Safi, Nehad M. Ayoub, Abeer M. Ayoub & Enaam Al-Momany

  2. Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science & Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan

    Ahmad S. Alkofahi

  3. King Hussein Medical City, Amman, Jordan

    Imad Al-Doghim

  4. Pharm D Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Mosa’b Al-Balas

  5. Texas Woman’s University, College of Nursing, 6700 Fannin Suite 6138, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Faisal H. Aboul-Enein

  6. Department of Dietetic Technology, San Jacinto College, 8060 Spencer Highway, Pasadena, TX, 77505, USA

    Basil H. Aboul-Enein

Authors
  1. Saafan A. Al-Safi
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  2. Nehad M. Ayoub
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  3. Abeer M. Ayoub
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  4. Enaam Al-Momany
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  5. Imad Al-Doghim
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  6. Mosa’b Al-Balas
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  7. Ahmad S. Alkofahi
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  8. Faisal H. Aboul-Enein
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  9. Basil H. Aboul-Enein
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Faisal H. Aboul-Enein.

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Al-Safi, S.A., Ayoub, N.M., Ayoub, A.M. et al. Public awareness of the abuse of herbs and drugs to decrease body weight: a novel national survey in Jordan. J Public Health 16, 205–213 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-007-0166-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-007-0166-5

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