Publication:

Correlation between ABO blood groups and body mass index among medical students

Background ABO blood groups are associated with certain diseases. The present study seeks to find out if there is any association between ABO blood groups and body mass index.

Methods The present study involves 150 medical students, 105 boys and 45 girls in the age group of 18-23 years in the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Burla, Sambalpur. Height in meters and weight in kg were taken by stadiometer and weighing machine. BMI was calculated using formula BMI=weight in kg/height in m2 . Blood groups were determined by slide agglutination method. The data was analyzed through SPSS 20.

Results Overweight and obesity was found more prevalent in boys than girls. In total, 20.7% students were overweight (21% boys and 20% girls). The same trend was found in obesity.  15.3% of total students were obese (16.2% boys and 13.3% girls). Blood group B was reported the most common blood groups (42%) followed by blood group O (28%), while blood groups A and AB were found 18.7% and 11.3% of participants, respectively. The prevalence of overweight (BMI 25-29.9) among participants based on blood group O, A, AB and B was 23.8%, 22.2%, 21.4% and 5.9%, respectively. The prevalence of obesity (BMI >30) among participants based on blood groups AB, B, A and O was 23.5%, 17.5%, 14.3% and 9.5%, respectively.

Conclusions Prevalence of overweight and obesity was more in blood group O and AB respectively and was more in males than females.