Table 3.

Reported reasons for use of supplements, and experience of side effects, in British Army soldiers under training and soldiers based at UK Phase 1, 2 and 3 training establishments (Number of responses and percentages)

Reasons for supplement use	n	Strongly agree (%)	Agree (%)	Disagree (%)	Strongly disagree (%)	Totally agree (strongly agree +agree) (%)	Totally disagree (strongly disagree+disagree) (%)
I take supplements to top up my diet	1190	30	44	20	6	74	26
I take supplements to top up ORP in the field	1111	10	26	44	21	36	64
I take supplements to improve physical performance	1189	45	42	10	3	87	13
I take supplements to help me prepare for a period of training or physical activity	1189	40	46	11	3	86	14
I take supplements to help me recover from training or physical activity	1189	49	42	7	2	91	9
I take supplements to improve my mental performance and/or to help me stay awake	1187	15	30	39	16	46	54
I take supplements for health reasons	1183	11	25	43	22	35	65
I take supplements for medical reasons	1184	3	9	53	36	11	89
I take supplements to help lose weight	1181	5	13	42	40	18	82
I take supplements to gain weight	1184	14	32	31	23	47	53
I take supplements to reduce my risk of injury	1182	11	33	39	18	44	57
I take supplements to reduce my risk of becoming ill	1187	9	25	43	23	34	66
I take supplements because I am told that supplements can help me	1186	13	41	31	16	53	47
I have a very good understanding of why I take, or have taken, supplements	1186	39	52	7	2	91	9
I believe that I have suffered side effects from taking supplements	1184	3	10	40	47	13	87
I have no concerns about the potential side effects of using supplements	1193	21	39	29	11	60	40

ORP, UK operational ration packs.