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A Cross-Sectional Study on Pattern of Alcohol Consumption and Body Mass Index Among Health Institution Students in Bagalkot
LC06-LC09
Correspondence
Dr. Vetri Selvan.T,
Post Graduate, Department of Community Medicine, Siddavanahalli Nijalingappa Medical College,
Navanagar, Bagalkot-587102, India.
E-mail: Tmil009@gmail.com
Introduction: Adolescence is a vulnerable period, where they try to initiate new things, sometimes wicked habits or high risk behaviours like smoking or alcohol consumption. Due to change in lifestyle a considerable number of social drinkers have shifted to heavy episodic drinking. Alcohol consumption plays a role in the development of obesity but the relationship between alcohol and weight is still unclear.
Objectives: To find the association between pattern of drinking and Body Mass Index (BMI).
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 395 students from five health Institutions in Bagalkot. A pre tested, semi structured questionnaire was used and BMI was noted. Results were tabulated using Microsoft excel 2007 and analysis were performed using OpenEpi, version 2.3.1.Chi square tests was used to find the association.
Results: In the present study 68% were girls and 32% were boys. About one fifth (20.53%) were current alcohol drinkers. Alcohol quantity and frequency had inverse association with BMI. As quantity increases from 1 drink/drinking day to =4 drinks/drinking day, BMI increases from 20.49 (95%CL 14.66-26.33) to 22.66 (95%CL 12.62-32.70). As frequency increased from low to high quintiles of drinking days/year, BMI significantly decreases (p <0.003) from 21.44 (95% CI 20.31-22.58) to 20.38 (95% CI 13.05-27.72).
Conclusion: Alcohol contributes to increase in body weight in certain types of drinking pattern while in others it was not associated.