The Role of Societal Influences on Weight Loss Supplement Consumption Among Malaysian Young Adults

Willis Chau, Kai Boon Goh, Xuan Ying H’ng, Khay Lok Tong, Ru Jun Wong and Hemaniswarri Dewi Dewadas ()
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Willis Chau: Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Faculty of Business and Finance
Kai Boon Goh: Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Faculty of Business and Finance
Xuan Ying H’ng: Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Faculty of Business and Finance
Khay Lok Tong: Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Faculty of Business and Finance
Ru Jun Wong: Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Faculty of Business and Finance
Hemaniswarri Dewi Dewadas: Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Faculty of Business and Finance

A chapter in Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Business, Accounting, Finance and Economics (BAFE 2024), 2025, pp 533-550 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract In reality, many people are concerned about their bodies and the self-image awareness has taken places into affecting the consumption of weight loss supplement. There was noticeable trend within young adults on weight loss supplement consumption for achieving the idealised body image in Malaysia. The aim of this research is to understand the relationship between social influences and the utilisation of weight-loss supplements among young adults in Malaysia. This study employs quantitative design with simple random sampling and snowball sampling techniques to select a representative sample of 497 young adults aged 18–27 in Malaysia in different states. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered via Google Forms, capturing information on independent variables, dependent variables, and demographics. We conducted a pilot study to validate the questionnaire, SPSS software was used to assess its reliability. Results show weight loss supplement intake are significantly influenced by social media, social pressure, and social cultural proven with P-value less than 0.05 among young adults in Malaysia. Social media, particularly marketing influencer, heavily impacts purchasing decisions, while peer influence and cultural ideals surrounding body image further promote supplement use. The findings underscore the growing dependency on supplements as a quick fix for body dissatisfaction, which can lead to health risks, especially with unregulated products. The study also highlights the need for improvement in public education on sustainable and healthier weight management strategies, calling for targeted interventions to mitigate over-reliance on supplements. These insights are valuable for healthcare policymakers, educators, and marketers in promoting a more health-conscious society.

Keywords: Weight loss supplements; Young Adults; Societal Factors; social media; Image awareness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.2991/978-94-6463-666-6_32

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