Use of dietary supplements, and doping among male gym trainers in Sri Lanka

Abstract

People who train in public gymnasiums are motivated to improve aesthetic appearance, performance, and health, which may sometimes include the use of dietary supplements or banned substances. Accordingly, gym trainers are ideally placed to provide information, but the relationship between dietary supplementation and doping use and attitudes towards body image in Sri Lankan gym trainers is still being determined. 150 National Vocational Qualification certified male gym trainers across all of Sri Lanka were recruited into the study. Data were gathered to analyse supplement use, and the Male Body Attitude Scale (MBAS) and Performance Enhancing Attitude Scale (PEAS) tools were used to analyse body image and attitudes to doping, respectively. Gym trainers had positive attitudes toward body image and were satisfied with their muscularity (mean = 2.6, SD = 0.1) and body fat levels (mean = 2.5, SD = 0.1). All participants reported using at least one dietary supplement, caffeine-containing beverages (relative frequency 90%), protein powders (49%), herbal supplements (41%), individual vitamins (35%), individual minerals (34%) and energy drinks (25%). Half (54%) of gym trainers had a lenient positive attitude towards doping that was associated with body image. Supplement use and perception of muscularity (r = 0.55, p < 0.001) and body fat (r = 0.23, p = 0.011) were positively correlated. Significant regression associations existed between PEAS and muscularity, body fat, height, and supplement use. Gym trainers had a high frequency of supplement use, and a lenient attitude towards doping, which is associated with a positive perception of body

 composition. Confirmation of attitudinal transference to clients requires further research.