Use of herbal and supplement products for weight loss among Jordanians: A cross-sectional study.

Approximately half of study participants reported attempting to reduce their weight in the past 12 months.

• Total sample size was 1125 participants.
• 49.9% of participants reported trying to reduce their weight in the past 12 months.
• The study was conducted via an online self-administered questionnaire between April 7, 2025 and June 1, 2025.
• The study was cross-sectional in design targeting the Jordanian general public.

Green tea, ginger, and cinnamon were the most commonly reported herbal products/supplements used for weight management.

• Green tea was the most commonly used product, reported by 53.2% of participants.
• Ginger was the second most commonly used product, reported by 31.2% of participants.
• Cinnamon was the third most commonly used product, reported by 29.9% of participants.

More than half of participants believed herbal products/supplements for weight management are effective.

• 55.3% of study participants reported believing that the use of herbal products/supplements for body weight management is effective.
• 58.5% of participants reported that these products are safer options.
• 27.6% reported that the products might have side effects.
• 22.0% reported that they might be allergic to these products.

GIT disturbances and headache were the most commonly reported side effects of herbal products/supplements used for weight management.

• GIT disturbances were reported by 41.6% of participants as a side effect.
• Headache was reported by 20.2% of participants as a side effect.

Several demographic and health characteristics were significant predictors of herbal product/supplement use for weight management.

• Older participants aged 31–35 years were more likely to use herbal products/supplements for weight management (P ≤ .05).
• Females were more likely to use these products compared to males (P ≤ .05).
• Married individuals were more likely to use these products (P ≤ .05).
• Those working outside the healthcare sector were more likely to use these products (P ≤ .05).
• Participants with comorbidities were more likely to use these products (P ≤ .05).
• Logistic regression analysis was used to identify these predictors.

Many individuals reported using herbal products after failing to lose weight through lifestyle changes, drugs, or surgery, or due to lack of commitment.

• Use was attributed to prior failure with conventional weight loss methods including lifestyle changes, drugs, or surgery.
• Lack of commitment to conventional methods was also cited as a reason for turning to herbal products.
• Low cost of herbal supplements was identified as a motivating factor for their use.
• Long-held views about the safety and health benefits of herbal products were noted as contributing to their use.

There is limited evidence about the safety and efficacy of herbal products, and no guidelines exist to regulate their use.

• The absence of regulatory guidelines for herbal product use was identified as a key concern.
• Many participants were found to have used herbal products incorrectly.
• The authors emphasized the need to raise awareness of proper doses to avoid health risks.