engleski

Association of early menarche age and overweight/obesity

The aim of the study is to assess association of overweight/obesity and early menarcheal age. Patients and Methods: The study comprised 2, 127 healthy girls aged from 9 to 16 years. Menarcheal age was estimated by status quo method. The girls' body weight (BW) and height (BH) were measured and their body mass index (BMI) calculated. The diagnostic criteria of the WHO were used to define overweight and obesity. Girls with a BMI in the range of +1 to +2 for age and sex were considered overweight. Girls with a BMI greater than +2SD for age and sex were considered obese. Girls with a BMI greater than 1SD for age and sex were considered overweight/obese. SES was analysed according to years of education completed and parents’ occupations, and the number of children in the family. Median menarcheal age was 12.83 years, 25% girls had menarche before 11.98 years, and 75% by 13.69 years. By 11.21 years, 10% of girls had had menarche, and 95% by 14.91 years. Girls younger than 11.98 years with menarche had higher BW values (48.5 vs. 40.2 kg) (p<0.001), BH (159.3 vs. 149.2 cm) (p<0.001) and BMI (18.9 vs. 17.8 kg/m2) (p=0.003) than their peers without menarche. Girls with menarche before 11.98 years had significantly higher BMI values than girls with menarche over 13.69 years (18.94 vs.17.84 kg/m2) (p=0.008). Girls with menarche before 11.98 years and with menarche at more than 13.69 years differ significantly in distribution of thinness (3.4% vs. 2.5%), normal weight (85.3% vs. 91.8%) and overweight/obesity (11.2% vs. 5.7%) (p=0.002). Girls who experienced early menarche are significantly more often overweigh/obese. Overweight/obesity may be considered as one of the predictors for the early occurrence of menarche.

menarche ; overweight/obesity ; body mass index

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