(P20-097-24) Association Between Body Composition, Anaemia and Cognitive Performance Among Adolescent Girls at Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region of Ghana

Objectives: This study sought to assess the association between the body composition, anaemia, and cognitive performance of 133 school-going adolescent girls (aged 10-16 years) at Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that assessed the nutritional status of the adolescent girls by measuring their height with a Seca stadiometer, their body composition with a Bioimpedance analyzer (Omron HBF- 510), and their Mid Upper Circumference (MUAC) with a MUAC tape. The weight status of the participants were determined using the WHO AnthroPlus software, and classified based on their BMI-for-Age Z-scores (BAZ). Their haemoglobin levels were also measured to determine their anaemic status using the Hemocue® Hb 301. Cognitive assessments were also conducted using the Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 26. A p-value of  < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 12.68±1.554 years. The prevalence of anaemia was 47.3%, with 32.3% classified as mildly anaemic and 15% as moderately anaemic. About 43.6% of them were malnourished, whilst the BAZ revealed that 3.8% and 12.8% of the participants were obese and overweight respectively, with 3% being thin. The mean body fat of the participants was 18.326±8.0017, and their mean muscle mass was 34.758±3.463. The overall average score of the participants in the cognitive test score was 19.73±7.523, with 38.3% of them performing below average. Using Pearson’s correlational analysis, the percentage body fat of the participants exhibited a significant positive correlation with BMI (p < 0.001) and a negative association with haemoglobin levels (r= -0.156, p= 0.073). Also, body weight showed a significant negative association with haemoglobin levels (r=-0.186, p=0.032). However, a positive association was observed between muscle mass and haemoglobin levels (r= 0.026, p=0.764).

Conclusions: These findings suggest significant positive associations between percentage body fat and BMI, and a negative association with haemoglobin levels. Thus, appropriate measures must be put in place to improve the nutritional status, especially the muscle mass and haemoglobin levels of adolescent girls.

Funding Sources: Big Ideas Prize, 2022