The Obesity: A Risk to Iron Deficiency

Abstract

Objective: To determine association between iron deficiency and obesity in twin cities of Pakistan.
Study Design: Observational Cross sectional Study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Islamic International Medical College and Railway General Hospital Rawalpindi. The duration of the study was one year (April 2017 to March 2018).
Materials and Methods: Eighty obese, eighty overweight and eighty normal weight healthy individuals were recruited. 5ml blood was collected. Blood complete picture, serum iron levels, total iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation and serum ferritin levels were performed. Data was collected and analyzed on SPSS version 21.
Results: Sixty seven (84%) obese adults had iron deficiency out of which 38 (48%) had iron deficiency state and 29 (36%) iron deficiency anaemia. 64 (80%) overweight adults had iron deficiency out of which 46 (57%) had iron deficiency state and 18 (23%) iron deficiency anaemia. 50 (62%) normal weight had iron deficiency among those 33 (41%) had iron deficiency state and 17 (21%) had iron deficiency anaemia. Serum Iron and Transferrin
Saturation were significantly low in overweight and obese with a p-value of <0.001. Serum Ferritin was significantly in higher diagnostic range among overweight and Obese than the normal weight with a p-value <0.001.
Conclusion: Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia have higher prevalence among obese individuals.