A Correlation Between Height, Obesity and Intelligence in South Indian Medical Students
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Biomedicine: 2021; 41(1): 153-156 January – March 2021 Short communication A correlation between height, obesity and intelligence in South Indian medical students Shifaya Fathima S1, Yuvaraj Maria Francis2, S. Senthil Kumar3, Balaji K.4, Gunapriya Raghunath5, Kumaresan M.2 1BPT Final Year, 3Associate Professor, Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, 2Assistant Professor, 4Tutor, 5Professor, Department of Anatomy, Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Thandalam, Chennai 602 105, Tamil Nadu, India (Received: July 2020 Revised: February 2021 Accepted: March 2021) Corresponding author: Yuvaraj Maria Francis Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Introduction and Aim: Human intelligence is a cognitive process and was correlated with several anthropometric parameters. Height is one of the well-known factor that is suspected for a positive correlation with intelligence and their association is studied since many years. Similarly, obesity which has become a major health outcome of today is said to have a negative effect on intelligence. Prevalence of obesity and its co-morbidities are in a great rise in both developed and developing countries. Recent findings show that obesity could impair cognitive performance. This study focuses on the correlation of the parameters such as height and BMI (Body Mass Index) with intelligence for selected samples and underscores the significance of correlation. The objective of our study was to test whether a linear relationship exists between the IQ and the two parameters and their strength of correlation. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted at Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Chennai. Sample consists of 50 students of age group 18-20 of phase I MBBS students and the present study was directed in the Department of Anatomy. Intelligence was measured by Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM), a non-verbal reasoning test. Height was measured in metres using stadiometer. Using height and weight values obtained from the sample, Body Mass Index (weight in kg/height in metre squares) was calculated. Mean and Standard Deviation of parameters were assessed and correlation value were calculated. Results: The data were statistically analysed using correlation and regression. It showed positive correlation between height and intelligence (r=0.268) (p=0.05) and a negative correlation between obesity and intelligence (r= -0.324) (p=0.05). Conclusion: Therefore, it concludes that height and intelligence were positively correlated, concomitantly obesity and intelligence were negatively correlated mainly due to increase in BMI has a deteriorating effect on intelligence. Keywords: Anthropometric parameters; correlation; height; obesity; standard progressive matrices; BMI. INTRODUCTION A positive connection among height and insight was accounted for before by number of studies (1). Weight, uman knowledge is a psychological cycle and a strange development of the fat tissue because of a it is the scholarly aptitude of people. growth of fat cell size (hypertrophic corpulence) or an Intelligence quotient (IQ) is an age-related H expansion in fat cell number (hyperplastic heftiness) proportion of knowledge level. Since numerous early or a mix of both'. Weight is frequently communicated reports showed that insight associates with various as far as Body Mass Index (BMI). Obese individuals anthropometric factors like height, weight, head differ not only in the amount of excess fat that they periphery, and so on Researchers Paul Broca and Sir store, but also in the regional distribution of the fat Francis Galton were the first to quantify the size of the within the body. Perhaps obesity has become more skull to decide the knowledge. They expected that prevalent form of malnutrition. It is both disease and a there could be some relationship between skull size major risk that may develop many other morbidities. and knowledge. There are numerous ecological and Incidence of obesity in both developed and developing hereditary elements that impacts the human insight. countries is increasing, affecting children as well as Without a doubt one such pivotal factor is height while adults. Improper diet pattern, reduced levels of searching for the actual premise of relationship with physical activity, sedentary lifestyle and ethnicity are knowledge. Height is the vertical distance estimated key factors affecting and primarily causing obesity. from top of the head to lower part of the feet in a The World Health Organization (WHO) categorized human, during erect stance. A person's height is individuals with BMI equal to or more than 30kg/m2 dictated by an intricate interchange among qualities as obese (obese class I = 30.00-34.99, obese class and climate. Essential components influencing height II=35.00-39.99, obese class III>/=40.00). Obesity has incorporate age, sex, sustenance, actual work, become a major public health concern and is one of financial status, heritability. Height is additionally the most significant contributors for the cause of critical that it is corresponded with other wellbeing several other health problems. Complications of results. obesity include impaired glucose tolerance and DOI: https://doi.org/10.51248/.v41i1.552 153 Biomedicine- Vol. 41 No. 1: 2021 Fathima et al: A correlation between height, obesity and intelligence in South Indian medical students diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disease, measures. The data obtained in the study were dyslipidaemia, cerebrovascular disease, certain types statistically analysed using correlation and regression. of cancer and other diseases (2). RESULTS Increased level of these comorbidities contrasts with In the present study, of 50 students, mean age and each other. Because of the partner intelligence quotient was 18.00 ± 0.4 and 107.46 ± sicknesses, weight is additionally prompting 13.4 respectively. The mean height and body mass an expansion in death rates. Notwithstanding index was 165.21 ± 9.39 and 25.384 ± 4.13 the results including metabolic capacities, cardio- respectively (table1). vascular framework, a The Pearson’s correlation test was done to correlate few methodologies, including both epidemiological height and intelligence quotient and obesity and and testing information have intelligence quotient. been begun to explore the relationship of corpulence with CNS and tells that heftiness may cause a noxious effect on CNS(3). The negative relationship of weight with psychological capacity was noticed and BMI over the constraint of extraordinary overweight and corpulence was related with decreased cognitive performance (4, 5). As scholarly capacity of an individual is exceptionally worried at practically altogether areas, this investigation centers around to learn the conceivable connection Fig. 1. The linear relationship (positive correlation) of insight - height and Intelligence-BMI and between height and IQ. ( r = 0.268, p<0.05) underscores the significance of their relationship. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sample size and distribution The present study was conducted (March 2019 to April 2020) at Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Chennai. Around 50 students of phase I MBBS with 22 males and 28 females were included in this study and the following variables such as IQ, height, weight and BMI were observed and Fig. 2: The linear relationship (negative correlation) measurement was taking after obtaining proper between BMI and IQ. (r = -0.324, p<0.05) concern form. Table 1: The baseline characters of MBBS students The intelligence was analysed using standard Parameters MEAN ± SD progressive matrices (SPM) - a non-verbal test. It Age 18.00 ± 0.4 consists of five sets of items within each set, the items Intelligence quotient (SPM) 107.46 ± 13.4 become progressively difficult. The raven progressive Height (cm) 165.21 ± 9.39 matrices (RPM) tests measure “general cognitive Body Mass Index 25.384 ± 4.13 ability”. The best version of the test, known as The values are expressed as mean ± standard Standard Progressive Matrices. This test is used in deviation. measuring abstract reasoning. Using the test, IQ of the individual samples were obtained. Height was Table 2: Pearson correlation coefficient (r) values for measured using stadiometer, the measurement was intelligence with height and BMI respectively taken in standing erect posture without foot wear. Parameters Co-efficient value (r) Three readings in metres were taken and the mean of Correlation Between 0.268 those readings was calculated. BMI-body mass index Height and IQ(SPM) is a commonly used simple index of weight for height Correlation Between BMI -0.326 that classifies underweight, overweight and obesity in and IQ (SPM) adults. It is calculated by the formula weight in A positive correlation (r=0.268) was found between kilograms divided by the square of the height in meter height and intelligence quotient and it was statistically square (kg/m2) (Quetelet’s index). BMI is age- significant (p <0.05). An increase in the height showed independent and same for both sexes. According to an increase in the intelligence quotient, which is WHO, normal range is 18.50-24.99. BMI of expressed (table 2; fig. 1). individuals of the sample were calculated using this method with their assessed height and weight DOI: https://doi.org/10.51248/.v41i1.552 154 Biomedicine- Vol. 41 No. 1: 2021 Fathima et al: A correlation between height, obesity and intelligence in South Indian medical students A negative correlation (r= -0.326) was found between positive correlation between