Relation of Intelligence Quotient and Body Mass Index in Preschool Children

Amir Alishahi, MD, MPH The Gillings School of Global Public Health

December 7, 2015

Presentation Outline

Background

Method

Result

Discussion

Q & A

• Overweight and obesity in children is a global problem.

• Physicial effects: Hypertension, Impaired glucose

metabolism, Extra stress on weight-bearing joints, Liver

disease and Asthma

• Psychological effects: lowering self- esteem, affecting

relationships with peers and social problems.

Background Method Result Discussion

• Type: Cross-sectional community-based at national level in

Iran

• Time: Between 25 April 2009 and 19 May 2013.

• Sampling method: 13 strata and multi- stage random cluster

sampling from each strata

• Sample: 1352 preschool children aged 6–7 years old

Background Method Result Discussion

• Long-term medication use for any health disorder

• History of any kind of infectious or non-infectious hepatic disorder

• History of familial hyperlipidemia, endocrine disorders and Hypothyroidism

• Any physical disability or a neurological disorder or hearing loss

• Obesity secondary to genetic disorders

• Living with single parents or identical twins

• Any developmental neurologic or psychiatric alterations

• Children under special diets or history of autism

• Children who have been examined for IQ in the past 6 months

• Children because of their or their parents refusal to participate in the study

• Mental retardation, any chronic medical problem such as asthma anemia

Background Method Result Discussion

Health system structure• Age, gender, history of any previous education, household size

and area of residence, age and educational level of parents, type

of childbirth, type of infant feeding and minimum household

income, height and weight of children were documented

• The BMI cutoff points used were those from the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

• Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children- Fourth Edition, Full-Scale

IQ

Background Method Result Discussion

• A total of 1151 children participated in the study

• 597 (51.9%) were boys and 554 (48.1%) were girls.

• The mean of IQ was 99.46±2.12 with the range 71–131.

Background Method Result Discussion

Background Method Result Discussion

Background Method Result Discussion

Background Method Result Discussion

• A lower IQ score is associated with abnormal BMI

• A higher IQ score is associated with maternal and paternal

education.

• A higher IQ score is associated with cesarean section

• A higher IQ score is associated with breastfeeding

• A higher IQ score is associated with wealthier and smaller

families

• A higher IQ score is associated with living bigger cities

Background Method Result Discussion

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