Association between Nutritional Status and Intelligence Quotient of Junior High School Students in Denpasar
Background and purpose: The prevalence of obesity among youth in Indonesia was increasing. Obese young people have risk of having non-communicable disease and also affect the intelligence quotient. This study aimed to determine the association between nutritional status and intelligence quotient among junior high school students.Methods: Study was cross sectional with a sample of 176 respondents determined by simple random sampling. Data were collected through an IQ test using Standard Progressive Matrices method, weight and height measurement, and self-administered questionnaires. Data were analysed using Stata. Bivariate analysis using chi-square test and multivariate by poisson regression test.Results: Mean age of respondents was 12.2 years and mean of IQ was 105.8. There were 77 obese students, consisting of 48 (62.3%) males and 29 (37.7%) females. 47 students (26.7%) indicated a below average IQ, consisting of 24 (51.1%) males and 23 (48.9%) females. Bivariate analysis indicated that 55.8% of obese students had below average IQ meanwhile students with a normal nutritional status of 4,0%. On below average IQ 4.0% students never had obesity; 56.8% students <6 years of being obese and 67.5% students ?6 years of being obese. Multivariate analysis found that respondent’s intelligence quotient was associated with obesity (APR=6.6; 95%Cl: 2.0-21.5).Conclusion: Intelligence quotient was significantly associated with obesity and the period of obesity. The longer the period of being obese more likely had a below average IQ.