Relationship Between BMI and Mental Health in Nursing Students of Jiroft

The purpose of this study to investigate the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and depression and mental health status in nursing students of the Jiroft nursing college. This is a descriptive-analytic study, conducted on a group of 173 nursing students of the Jiroft nursing college in 1387. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Beck Inventory depression and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Weight and height were measured without shoes and wearing light clothes. BMI was calculated by kg/m2. SPSS software and t test, Pearson correlation, Chi-score and logistic regression was used for data analysis. Of the total population, 77/4% of samples were female and 22/6 % were male. The mean age of samples was 21±1/9, mean BMI was 22/4 ±3/5. 16.6 % of subjects were low weight, 10.6 % over weight and 2.3% were obese. Data revealed a significant positive correlation between depression scores and body mass index scores(R=0/204, P<0/01). There was not significant correlation between GHQ and body mass index scores(R=0/108, P>0/157). Data also revealed that BMI is significantly related to depression [OR=1/1 CI95%=1/02-1/20] and place of residence [OR=6/86 CI 95% =2/38-19/78] among females, but not in males. It seems that enhancing mood and mental health status can reduce overweight in female nursing students of the Jiroft nursing college.