Abstract
Background: Hemoglobin (Hb) is the iron-containing protein in the red blood cells. Definition of adolescence by the WHO is as the period of life span between the age of 10–19 years. We have examined the association of body mass index (BMI) with Hb concentration in adolescence.

Aims and Objectives: The aim is to study the association between hemoglobin level and BMI, sociodemographic factors, and comparison for the gender differences among adolescent age group.

Materials and Methods: Of total 127 students, 50 students of a school (6th to 10th class), 50 PUC college students (11th and 12th), and 27 students from degree college in Raichur district were included, interviewed with pre-designed questionnaire, and physical examination including height, weight, and Hb level measured and BMI calculated.

Results: Mean and standard deviation of 127 participant’s age were 15.87 ± 2.592. Out of 127, 55.9% were male and 44.1% were female. There was a significant negative association between BMI (21.50 ± 2.64) and Hb level (12.30 ± 1.30). There was a significant positive association between Hb level and age. There was statistically highly significant high Hb among males compared to female.

Conclusion: BMI and Hb levels are showing significant negative association in our study; significant positive association between Hb level and age; and significant positive association between height and Hb level. In our study, there was statistically highly significant high Hb among males compared to females, and there was significantly high BMI among females compared to males.

Key words: Adolescence; Body mass index; Hemoglobin