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. 2013 Jan-Mar;11(1):47-52.
doi: 10.1590/s1679-45082013000100009.

The use of appetite suppressants among health sciences undergraduate students in Southern Brazil

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Carlos Zubaran  1 , Rubia Lazzaretti
Affiliations

The use of appetite suppressants among health sciences undergraduate students in Southern Brazil

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Carlos Zubaran et al. Einstein (Sao Paulo). 2013 Jan-Mar.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of appetite suppressant use among health sciences students in Southern Brazil.

Methods: Undergraduate students (n=300) from seven health science undergraduate courses of the Universidade de Caxias do Sul completed a questionnaire about the use of substances to suppress appetite.

Results: A significant percentage (15%; n=45) of research participants used appetite suppressants at least once in their lives. The most commonly used substances were sympathomimetic stimulant drugs (5%), including amfepramone (3.3%) and fenproporex (1.7%). The lifetime use of appetite suppressants was more prevalent among Nursing (26.7%) and Nutrition (24.4%%) students. There was no reported use of appetite suppressants among medical students. The use of appetite suppressants was significantly more prevalent among women. The majority of those who used these substances did so under medical recommendation. Most of users took appetite suppressants for more than 3 months.

Conclusion: Lifetime use of appetite suppressants was substantial, being sympathomimetic stimulant drugs the most commonly used agents. Students enrolled in Nursing and Nutrition courses presented a significantly higher prevalence of lifetime use of appetite suppressants.

Objetivo:: Estabelecer a prevalência do uso de moderadores de apetite entre estudantes da área da saúde na Região Sul do Brasil.

Métodos:: Estudantes universitários (n=300) de sete cursos da área da saúde da Universidade de Caxias do Sul completaram um questionário sobre o uso de moderadores de apetite.

Resultados:: Uma significativa porcentagem da amostra (15%; n=45) usou moderadores de apetite pelo menos uma vez na vida. As substâncias mais comumente usadas foram drogas estimulantes (5%), incluindo amfepramona (3,3%) e fenproporex (1,7%). O uso de moderadores de apetite foi mais prevalente entre estudantes de Enfermagem (26,7%) e Nutrição (24,4%%). Não foi relatado o uso de moderadores de apetite entre estudantes de Medicina. O uso de anorexígenos foi significativamente mais prevalente entre mulheres. A maioria dos que usaram supressores de apetite o fez sob orientação médica, como também usou tais substâncias por mais de 3 meses.

Conclusão:: O uso durante a vida de moderadores de apetite foi significativo entre estudantes da área da saúde, especialmente entre os matriculados em Enfermagem e Nutrição. As drogas estimulantes simpatomiméticas foram os agentes mais comumente usados.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: none.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. The percentage of use of appetite suppressants among undergraduate students in different Health Sciences courses
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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