HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND OPINION SEEKING IN THE CONSUMPTION OF FOOD SUPPLEMENTS

A descriptive research was carried out using a quantitative approach. The field research was developed through an online survey and the data were analyzed using multiple linear regression.

Findings -

It was found that the higher the level of healthy lifestyle, the greater the intention to resort to food supplementation. Furthermore, the search for opinion, in turn, positively influenced the intention to consume food supplements. However, this search for opinion is intrinsically related to the search for information from sources not indicated to direct the consumption of dietary supplements, which represents a risk to health.

Originality/value -

The main contribution of this research was that the experience of a healthy lifestyle does not represent the absence of consumption of dietary supplements. The results reveal an alarming situation regarding the health risks to which consumers of dietary supplements are exposed. These risks are also related to people with a high level of healthy lifestyle. Thus, this picture represents a public health problem and refers to the urgent need for information and awareness-raising actions for the population in order to control the incidence of diseases associated with the consumption of these products.

Keywords:
Food supplements; Healthy lifestyle; Opinion seeking; Health risk; Public health

Construct	Author	Items	Cod.
Intention to consume food supplements	Own authorship (2019)	1. I plan to consume food supplements next month (such as, thermogenic, Whey Protein, vitamin compounds, essential fatty acids, etc.).	ICFS1
Healthy lifestyle	Adapted from Downes (2008DOWNES, L. (2008). Motivators and Barriers of a Healthy Lifestyle Scale: Development and Psychometric Characteristics. Journal of Nursing Measurement, 16 (1), 3-15. doi: 10.1891/1061-3749.16.1.3 https://doi.org/10.1891/1061-3749.16.1.3... )	1. I participate in moderate physical activities, such as running, cycling, walking or swimming 30 minutes, five to seven days a week.	HL1
		2. I eat 2 pieces / serving of fruit a day.	HL2
		3. I eat vegetables every day.	HL3
		4. I usually avoid foods high in fat and calories such as potato chips, soda pop or fatty meats.	HL4
Opinion Seeking	Adapted from Flynn, Goldsmith and Eastman (1996FLYNN, LR, GOLDSMITH, RE, & EASTMAN, JK. (1996). Opinion Leaders and Opinion Seekers: Two New Measurement Scales. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 24 (2), 137-147.doi: 10.1177/0092070396242004 https://doi.org/10.1177/0092070396242004... )	1. When I consider consuming dietary supplements, I ask other people for advice.	OS1
		2. I don't need to talk to other people before I take food supplements.	OS2
		3. Other people influence my choice regarding dietary supplements.	OS3
		4. I would not choose a food supplement without consulting someone else.	OS4
		5. I know enough about dietary supplements to the point that I don't need other people's opinions.	OS5

Complete education level			Genre
University education		52,3%	Male	54%
Postgraduate studies		28,5%	Feminine	46%
High school		19,2%	Marital status
Variables	Average	Standard deviation	Not married	68,2%
Age	27,50	6,795	Married	22,5%
Individual income	R$ 2.134,22	R$ 4.567,23	Divorced	6,3%
Family income	R$ 4.235,66	R$ 9.321,45	Other	3,0%

Model	R	R ²	R ²	Estimate of standard error	Durbin -Watson
Model	R	R ²	Adjusted	Estimate of standard error	Durbin -Watson
1	0,371	0,137	0,124	2,242	2,059

Model	Nonstandard coefficients		Standardized coefficient	T	Sig.	95% confidence interval for B
Model	B	Standard error	B	T	Sig.	Inf. Limit	Sup. Limit
(Constant)	0,566	1,096		0,516	0,607	- 1,603	2,734
Healthy lifestyle	0,551	0,129	0,352	4,257	0,000	0,295	0,807
Opinion Seeking	0,326	0,185	0,145	1,760	0,081	- 0,041	0,692

Universidade Federal de Santa Maria Avenida Roraima nº 1000, Prédio 74C, Sala 4210 - Cidade Universitária - Centro de Ciências Sociais e Humanas (CCSH) - Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Cep: 97105-900, Tel: +55 (55) 3220-9242 - Santa Maria - RS - Brazil
E-mail: rea@ufsm.br

Acompanhe os números deste periódico no seu leitor de RSS

[1] 1. Jeferson Mendonça Pereira Filho Master’s student in Management, Innovation and Consumption - PPGIC / UFPE, Production Engineer graduated from the Caruaruense Association of Higher Education (2018), specialist in Environmental Law and Sustainability from the Educational Faculty of Lapa (2018), has a degree in Administration from the Federal University of Pernambuco (2016). E-mail: jefersonbetesda@hotmail.com ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3734-8831