Dynamic and static measures of growth among pre‐ and postmenarcheal females in rural Bangladesh

Abstract

Height and weight for age and height and weight velocity are examined in a sample of Bangladeshi adolescents aged 10-20 years with an average age at menarche of 15.8 years. Interpopulation differences between pre- and postmenarcheal girls are assessed and age patterns are compared to standards of U.S. and British adolescents. Bangladeshi adolescents are shorter and lighter for their age and lighter for their height than are U.S. adolescents. The growth spurt in height and weight is delayed and spread out over time, and growth rates are lower throughout the spurt when compared to British and U.S. girls. As in developed countries, most girls attain menarche after peak height velocity, while weight gain per year is highest around the time of menarche. There is no significant relationship between age at menarche and height or weight at menarche.

Anthropometric assessment of nutritional status in adolescent populations in humanitarian emergencies

“…For example, during the adolescent growth spurt, the highest rate of weight gain follows the highest rate of height gain (Riley, 1990). This leads to an acceleration in the rate of rise of BMI shortly after reaching the peak velocity in the increase in height, and this rise in BMI is more related to pubertal development than to chronologic age (Riley, 1990;Riley et al, 1989). Sexual development occurs at different ages in different populations (Eveleth & Tanner, 1990).…”