A survey of brain fitness products consumption practices among high school students

摘要

Commercial marketing aimed at promoting the purchase of brain fitness products by high school students and by parents for children, is ubiquitous in China and has been associated with negative health consequences such as adverse drug reactions. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of brain fitness products consumption among senior three high school students selected from first-class senior high schools in Nanyang. The study assessed the brain fitness products consumption patterns, types usually consumed, frequency of consumption, and reasons why such brain fitness products were consumed. A total number of 1018 senior three high school students gave their consent to participate in the study and completed a questionnaire which was administered during the recess. Most of the participants (67.1%) reported consuming at least one brand of brain fitness products in a week. A high proportion (48.2%) of the respondents who consumed brain fitness products indicated that they did so to relieve mental fatigue during studying. Other reasons given as to why brain fitness products were consumed by the study participants included to enhance memory (31.3%), to improve sleep (13.8%), and to provide psychological suggestion (6.7%). These results suggest that greater emphasis needs to be placed on increasing sustained brain health education programmes which may defend against significant misconception regarding the benefits of brain fitness products among high school students and their parents and also create awareness among kid and parent with the side effects of excessive consumption of such products.