Korean J Pediatr.  2006 Nov;49(11):1174-1179. 10.3345/kjp.2006.49.11.1174.

The iron status and the relationship between iron deficiency and body mass index in middle school girls

• Han HY
• Chang JH
• Shim HS
• Hong YJ
• Son BK
• Kim HC
• Kim SK

• KMID: 2280064
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2006.49.11.1174

Abstract

PURPOSE: Obesity and iron deficiency are common nutritional problems. Obese children are known to have iron deficiencies, but one presented opposite opinion in Korea. This study investigated the prevalence of obesity and iron deficiency in Incheon and the relationship between iron deficiency and obesity.
METHODS
Physical measurement and hematologic examinations were done a 764 healthy female students aged 14 to 15 years in May, 2005. Overweight was defined as a body mass index > or = 85th percentile. Iron deficiency was defined as serum ferritin <10 ng/mL. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) was defined as serum Hb <12 g/dL and serum ferritin <10 ng/mL and/or transferrin saturation <16%.
RESULTS
1) The prevalence of overweight was 24.4 percent (n=186), and that of obesity 16.5 percent (n=126). Ferritin and transferrin saturation was the lowest in the normal weight group. 2) The prevalence of iron deficiency and IDA was 18.7 percent (n=102) and 5.3 percent (n=41), respectively. 3) Iron deficiency was more common in the normal weight group compared with the overweight and underweight groups. Also, the non-obese had more iron deficiency and IDA than the obese.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of obesity in middle school girls could be higher in Incheon than in other regions, but there might be no difference in iron deficiency. However, iron deficiency was more prevalent in the normal weight group than in overweight group. The overweight group ate more food and gained more iron, so seemed to be less prevalent in iron deficiency than the normal weight group.

Keyword

Obesity; Body mass index; Iron deficiency anemia; Adolescent

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency
Body Mass Index*
Child
Female*
Ferritins
Humans
Incheon
Iron*
Korea
Obesity
Overweight
Prevalence
Thinness
Transferrin
Ferritins
Iron
Transferrin