Linking body mass index and intelligence among Indian medical students

Siktha Samanta; Yuvaraj Maria Francis; K Balaji; Gunapriya Raghunath; Samuel Sundar Doss; Madhan Krishnan; Shyamaladevi Babu

doi:10.6026/97320630018816

Linking body mass index and intelligence among Indian medical students

Bioinformation. 2022 Sep 30;18(9):816-819. doi: 10.6026/97320630018816. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Siktha Samanta¹, Yuvaraj Maria Francis², K Balaji², Gunapriya Raghunath², Samuel Sundar Doss³, Madhan Krishnan⁴, Shyamaladevi Babu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha institute of medical and technical sciences, Thandalam, Chennai - 602 105, India.
² Department of Anatomy, Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha institute of medical and technical sciences, Thandalam, Chennai- 602 105, India.
³ Department of Physiology, Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha institute of medical and technical sciences, Thandalam, Chennai - 602 105, India.
⁴ Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, chengalpattu - 603103 India.

Abstract

The intelligence quotient (IQ) is a dependable measurement for intellectual functioning that reflects computable cognitive abilities. According to earlier cross-sectional studies designs, developing higher BMI related to decreased IQ in adolescents population. Therefore, it is of interest to determine the correlation between IQ and BMI. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale-IV was used to assess intelligence. Body Mass Index (weight in kg/height in metre squares) was calculated using height and weight. A questionnaire was developed after the elaborated discussion and circulated among the students. The data was then analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2019. The correlation among intelligent quotient and BMI was found to be positive: r = 0.447, N = 300, p<0.05. Data shows that the IQ score is moderately associated with BMI. However, the other factors such as, parental IQ, nutrition, and socioeconomic status is taken into account, this effect appears to differ.

Keywords: Adolescent; Body Mass Index; Correlation; Intelligence Quotient.