Prevalence and Association of Haemoglobin and Body Mass Index of Young Adult Girls – A Cross-sectional Institutional Study

Author: K.V. Sudha, Hemalatha S., Uma N. Kulkarni, Edna Antony and Anil Kumar G.K.

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Abstract

Worldwide, anaemia is the most prevalent and persistent nutritional problem. Especially in developing countries like India, its most common in college going students. Low haemoglobin concentration and abnormal body mass index (BMI) have detrimental effects on health. The study aimed to investigate the association between haemoglobin levels and BMI among undergraduate young adult girl students. A cross-sectional institution-based study was conducted among 120 undergraduate young adult girl students. Results showed that majority (32.50%) of them were underweight. And 27.50 per cent were having normal weight. Pre-obese were 7.50 per cent and 15.83 per cent belonged to obesity class I and in obesity class II were 16.67 per cent. The majority of students had normal haemoglobin levels. However, there were 10 per cent mild and 20 per cent moderate anaemic students. A significant association was found between BMI and haemoglobin levels, revealing a higher prevalence of anaemia within the underweight category

Keywords

Iron deficiency anaemia, body mass index, haemoglobin

Conclusion

In this study, the majority of anaemic students were underweight due to the inadequate iron consumption. And there was significant association between the anaemia and body mass index. In India, anaemia is predominantly caused by insufficient dietary intake and poor iron absorption which affects over 80 per cent of women due to increased bodily demands. To address iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) among girls, food-based strategies should be prioritized. These strategies can include consumer education aimed at diversifying diets to include iron-rich foods and fruits containing Vitamin C, which enhances iron absorption. Also emphasizing specific issues such as iron hindering factors present in foods and the benefits of iron enhancers like Vitamin C. Addressing physiological, socioeconomic, and behavioural factors is crucial. It's essential to promote comprehensive nutritional knowledge about anaemia by making nutritional education sessions mandatory

References

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How to cite this article

K.V. Sudha, Hemalatha S., Uma N. Kulkarni, Edna Antony and Anil Kumar G.K. (2024). Prevalence and Association of Haemoglobin and Body Mass Index of Young Adult Girls – A Cross-sectional Institutional Study. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(7): 17-21.