Austrian survey reveals high supplement use among youth

A joint survey by the Chamber of Labour Vienna and the Austrian Society for Nutrition shows that 65 percent of respondents aged 14 to 25 had taken at least one dietary supplement in the three months prior to the study. On average, participants consumed at least four different categories of products, with the 18 to 25 age group showing significantly higher consumption levels than younger participants.

Whey protein and vitamin/mineral preparations were the most popular, each used by 46 percent of consumers, followed by Omega-3 fatty acids at 43 percent. Primary motivations included immune system support (48 percent), muscle building (45 percent), and preventing deficiencies (37 percent).

Experts have raised concerns regarding this trend. Petra Lehner of the Chamber of Labour noted that supplements should not be taken without a prior medical diagnosis and suggested they are only potentially useful in a sporting context for those training at least five hours per week. Additionally, nine out of ten young people reported relying on unverified information from fitness and health influencers on social media. The Chamber of Labour is calling for stricter legal limits on vitamins and minerals, as well as binding regulations for web content creators.