International Science Community Association Research Journal of Recent Sciences 2277 - 2502 3 10 2014 October 2 Self-Treatment with anti-Obesity medications in Overweight and Obese Women in Tehran-Iran 23 27 EN A. Kiran 1 Department of Management Sciences, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science andTechnology, (SZABIST) Islamabad Campus, PAKISTAN Khan M.A. 2 Hemmatipour Mohammad 1 Islamic Azad University, Germi branch, Ardabil, IRAN Javidzade HamidReza 2 Germi Branch, Ardabil, IRAN Fani Reza 3 Khosrotabar Azadeh 1 Shiraz University, IRAN Fakhrahmad SeyedMostafa 2 S. Fazelian 1 Health Care Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, IRAN N. Namazi 2 Research Committee, Faculty of Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, IRAN J. Heshmati 3 > Research Paper 2013 9 13 2014 October 2 Following the failure of long-term weight loss diet and media advertisements about anti-obesity medications, taking anti-obesity drugs are increasing. The aims of present study were to determine the prevalence ofself-medication, correlations between self-medication and general characteristic and ways to obtain information about anti-obesity drugs in overweight and obese women. A cross-sectional study was carried on 200 overweight and obese women (Body Mass Index=28.36±3.73 kg/m) aged 20-50 years from April to December 2012. A questionnaire which contained socio-demographic, life styles, self diet management and self medication items was filled out and anthropometric indices were measured. SPSS software version 16 was applied for Statistical analysis. Pv0.05 was considered significant. 54.45% of participants had self-diet management during the last six months. 12.87% of women reported self-medication without weight loss diet. Self-medication in younger was significantly more than older women (Pv=0.01). No significant correlation was observed between income, education and BMI with self medication (Pv0.05). However a significant correlation was observed between age and self medication (r=0.23, Pv=0.01). Most of the subjects, especially younger women mentioned self-medication for faster losing weight and fitness (64.35%). Herbal supplements were the most commonly used medications in subjects (32.35%). About 60% of women reported that friends and relatives were the main sources of receiving information about anti-obesity drugs. Self-treatment among women in Tehran-Iran is of concern,due to the highprevalence of self-diet management and tendency of younger women to self-medication for getting body image satisfaction. Copyright@ International Science Community Association