Sharda Sidhu

Overweight and obesity in affluent school children of Punjab

In the present cross-sectional study, an attempt has been made to report the prevalence of overweight and obesity in school-going children of the affluent families of Punjab. A total of 1000 children (490 boys and 510 girls) were measured for height and weight. Overweight and obesity were assessed using age and sex-specific body mass index (BMI) cut-off points. In the present study, 12.24% boys and 14.31% girls were overweight, and 5.92% boys and 6.27% girls were obese. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among the affluent school children of Punjab was as high or higher as in some developed countries.

Distribution of the ABO Blood Groups and Rh(D) Factor Among the Scheduled Caste Population of Punjab

Abstract The distribution of ABO blood groups and Rh(D) factor has been studied among the four endogamous groups (Balmiki, Dhanak, Ravidasia and Ramdasia) of Scheduled Caste population of Punjab. The percentage frequencies of O, A, B and AB groups in the combined data were found to be 31.22, 21.91, 37.57 and 9.30, respectively. The Rh negative incidence was recorded as 2.70%. The distribution of these blood genetic markers is well within the ranges observed for other Schedule Caste populations.

Variation in Blood Pressure Among School Children of Amritsar (Punjab)

Abstract The patterns of blood pressure among 1000 school children (540 boys and 460 girls) in the age group 6 to 14years of Amritsar district of Punjab were studied cross-sectionally. Three readings of blood pressure were recorded for eachsubject. The mean values of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure increase with age in both sexes. There wasno significant difference in blood pressure of the two sexes at all age groups except for systolic blood pressure at age group7+. The study has also revealed that hypertension is prevalent in 7.5% healthy children of Amritsar. It is, therefore recommendedthat the children must be screened regularly for blood pressure to detect the prevalence of blood pressure.

Age at menopause in educated women of Amritsar (Punjab).

Abstract In the present study, an attempt has been made to determine median age at menopause and frequency of various related clinical symptoms among educated women of Amritsar district of Punjab. The data for this crosssectional study were collected at random from 539 women aged 40-50 years. In-depth interviews were conducted among Amritsar women for collecting information about menopause and symptoms associated with it. 256 women 47.50%) of the study population were classified as postmenopausal, i.e., having no vaginal bleeding during the last 12 months, and 283 women (52.50%) were perimenopausal, i.e., having irregular vaginal bleeding during the last 12 months. Median age at menopause was 47.54±2.31 years which is close to the estimates from other Punjabi populations. The most common clinical symptoms associated with menopause were hot flushes and night sweats 55.08%), insomnia (53.12%), headache and body-aches (38.28%), fatigue (42.18%), irritability (35.15%), perspiration 34.76%), palpitation (22.26%), short breath (20.31%), nervous tension (10.56%) and depression (8.20%).

Genetic variation in D7S1875 repeat polymorphism of leptin gene is associated with increased risk for depression: a case‐control study from India

Background: Epidemiologic data suggest an association between obesity and depression, however findings vary considerably across different studies. Both depression and obesity are disabling disorders associated with loss over appetite control, influenced by genetic and environmental factors and are risk factors for diseases like hypertension, cardiovascular disorders, etc. This study attempts to establish a link between the symptoms of depression, metabolic disorders, and obesity, to unravel the underlying association/s. Methods: This exploratory case–control study comprises 133 clinically diagnosed depressed individuals and 136 age matched controls. DNA from all 269 subjects was genotyped for D7S1875 repeat polymorphism in the promoter region of Leptin (LEP) gene using polymerase chain reaction. Results: Frequency of the shorter allele of D7S1875 (<208 bp) was 0.73 in the depressive group versus 0.67 in the control group (P=.01). Cases homozygous for D7S1875≥208 bp alleles had significantly higher value of systolic (130 versus 122; P<.009) and diastolic (85.4 versus 81; P=.01) blood pressure (SBP and DBP) than the individuals homozygous for<208 bp allele. A similar trend was observed for SBP (127.8 versus 123.6; P=.03) among controls homozygous for the longer or the shorter allele. Thus, the LEP gene appears to be an important genetic determinant for susceptibility to depression in the Indian population (OR=1.4913, 95% CI=1.0334–2.1522; P=.04). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that LEP gene variants could be related to depression and associated co‐morbidities such as hypertension. Depression and Anxiety, 2009.

Clinical Assessment of Health and Nutritional Status of Scheduled Caste Preschool Children of Amritsar

Abstract Health and nutritional status of Scheduled Caste preschool children of Amritsar district of Punjab was studied with the help of clinical examination, and height and weight measurements. A total of 1,000 children (528 boys and 472 girls) formedthe study group. With clinical symptoms, the prevalence of various deficiencies was estimated. With measurements of height andweight, the prevalence of undernutrition was also determined. A close proximation was observed in the appearance of deficiencysymptoms and undernutrition between boys and girls, depicting their poor state of health and nutrition.

Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Preschool Children of Amritsar, Punjab

Abstract In the present study, an attempt has been made to report the prevalence of overweight and obesity in preschool children of Amritsar. A total of 1,745 children (875 boys and 870 girls) ranging in age from 2 to 5 years were measured for height and weight, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Overweight and obesity were assessed using international criteria of BMI. The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was 6.42% and 2.00%, respectively, in the children of Amritsar. 6.85% boys and 5.97% girls were overweight, and 2.06% boys and 1.95% girls were obese. The levels of overweight and obesity among preschool children of Amritsar (Punjab) were lower than the preschool children of developed countries.

Prevalence of Anaemia Among Adolescent Girls of Scheduled Caste Community of Punjab

Abstract Two hundred sixty-five adolescent girls (age 11+ to 15+) of Scheduled Caste community of Amritsarwere the subjects of study. The study showed that only 29.43% girls were normal and 70.57% were affected withvarious grades of anaemic condition, 30.57% girls being mildly anaemic and 27.17% moderately anaemic while12.83% suffered from severe anaemia. Severe anaemia had its wrath in age group 15+.

Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity among Adult Urban Females of Punjab: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract In the present study, an attempt has been made to report the prevalence of overweight and in 1,000 adult urban females of Punjab. For the assessment of overweight and obesity, the height and weight measurements were taken on each subject. The prevalence rate of malnutrition was calculated according to the critical limits of BMI. The observation reveal that the prevalence rate of overweight and obesity in the present sample is 20.0 and 25.3% percent respectively.

Prevalence of Anaemia in Bazigar (Ex-nomadic Tribe) Preschool Children of Punjab

Abstract A study on the prevalence of anaemia was conducted among the Bazigar preschool children of Amritsar, Ludhiana, Moga and Patiala districts of Punjab. Blood sample was collected from 1200 children ranging in age from 1+ to 5+ years, and haemoglobin was estimated by cyanmethaemoglobin method. Anaemia was diagnosed when haemoglobin was less than 11 g/dl. The study revealed an overall prevalence of anaemia as 90.50%. The frequency of anaemia was maximum in age group 2+. Thereafter, the frequency of anaemia deceases as the age increases.