Correlation of body mass index levels with menarche in adolescent girls in Shaanxi, China: a cross sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundMenarche is a milestone for adolescent girls. The timing of menarche is influenced by genetics, social status and nutritional status (e.g., height, weight and body mass index [BMI]) and impacts future health (e.g., obesity and breast cancer). There have been many studies on trends in age at menarche among adolescent girls in China, but few have investigated associations between growth status and the timing of menarche. This study examined the association between age at menarche and growth status among adolescent girls in Western China.MethodsThe participants in this cross sectional study came from three geographical regions of Shaanxi Province. A total of 533 adolescent girls from urban and rural areas were randomly selected. Trained investigators administered a standard questionnaire to each participant during a face-to-face interview and carried out anthropometric measurements.ResultsThe average age at menarche was 13.3 years. There were statistically significant differences in BMI z-scores between pre-menarcheal and post-menarcheal girls of the same age and these differences were related to socioeconomic factors. Girls who had reached menarche, in particular those aged 13–14 years, were significantly taller (P < 0.01) and had higher BMI (P < 0.01) than girls in the same age group who had not reached menarche.ConclusionsBMI is associated with the timing of menarche but socioeconomic factors are also important.

Menarche Age and Its Association to Body Mass Index and Socioeconomic Status Among School Girls in Sanandaj in North-West of Iran

“…The results showed that in girls with higher BMI, the menarche age was lower. This finding is supported by many studies in some regions of the world, including Kirchengast in 2007 in Austria (27), Lee in South Korea in 2013 (28), Goon in Nigeria in 2010 (6), and Wang in China in 2016 (29).…”

A Systematic Literature Review of Factors Affecting the Timing of Menarche: The Potential for Climate Change to Impact Women’s Health

“…If inadequate growth is evident then menarche is delayed, and proper growth depends on nutrition. Menarche occurred earlier among those who had achieved adequate growth indicators, including height [31][32][33], weight [32][33][34], vital capacity [32], and arm circumference [33]. Conversely, a study from Bangladesh found that those with physical stunting (thought to be due to inadequate growth from inadequate nutrition) had later menarche than those without stunting [45].…”

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Effect of Age at Menarche on Obesity Epidemic

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