NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY ANEMIA

Abstract

Nutritional anemia is emerging health issue affecting all the age groups but moreprevalent among the youngsters due to poor eating habits and consumption of more junkfood which lacks essential ingredients. The aim is to determine the frequency of anemia andto find its association with junk food among medical students. Study Design: Cross sectionalstudy. Setting: Comprises of 100 students was conducted at Aziz Fatimah Medical and DentalCollege Faisalabad. Period: Six months, 01-01-2017 to 30-06-2017. Methodology: After ethicalapproval all relevant information including age, height, BMI, consumption of junk food andother dietary habits were taken on predesigned proforma. Hb levels were checked by Sahil’smethod in department of Physiology to evaluate the relation of anemia with junk food. Data wasanalyzed by SPPS 20. Results: Study also revealed that 55(49.1%) of the study participants wereconsuming junk food frequently. Among the junk food consumers 69.1% were anemic and theirhemoglobin levels were lower than non –consumers of junk food. Regression analysis showsnegative association between junk food and hemoglobin levels (P value 0.009). Conclusion:Anemia is frequently found in junk food consumers then non junk food consumers.