DOUBLE JEOPARDY: HIGH ANEMIA PREVALENCE IN UNDERWEIGHT AND OBESE YOUNG MEN: A PAKISTANI PERSPECTIVE ON ANDROLOGICAL HEALTH

Objective: To determine the association between body mass index (BMI) categories and anemia prevalence in young adult males and its potential impact on andrological well-being. Methodology: This Cross-sectional study was conducted at Teaching Hospital Turbat, from February 2024 to August 2024. One hundred and eighty-six young males aged 18-40 years were recruited using convenient purposive sampling. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin <13 g/dL. BMI was categorized as underweight (<18.5 kg/m²), normal (18.5-24.9 kg/m²), overweight (25-29.9 kg/m²), and obese (≥30 kg/m²). Complete blood count was performed using automated hematology analyzer. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Results: Mean age was 30.45±5.82 years. Overall anemia prevalence was 30.1% (56/186). A U-shaped relationship was observed: underweight 72.7% (8/11), normal weight 30.0% (30/100), overweight 16.7% (9/54), and obese 42.9% (9/21). Significant negative correlation (r=-0.287, p<0.001) was found between BMI and hemoglobin. Mean hemoglobin was lowest in underweight (11.82±1.45 g/dL) and obese (12.23±1.78 g/dL) groups. Conclusion: Both extremes of BMI showed remarkably high anemia prevalence. Given the established link between anemia and testosterone deficiency, these findings have important implications for male reproductive health and andrological well-being.