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Earlier menarcheal age in S panish girls is related with an increase in body mass index between pre‐pubertal school age and adolescence
Author(s) -
GavelaPérez T.,
Garcés C.,
NavarroSánchez P.,
López Villanueva L.,
SorianoGuillén L.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
pediatric obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.226
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 2047-6310
pISSN - 2047-6302
DOI - 10.1111/ijpo.277
Subject(s) - menarche , medicine , body mass index , demography , anthropometry , birth weight , population , cohort study , cohort , longitudinal study , pediatrics , affect (linguistics) , pregnancy , endocrinology , psychology , environmental health , communication , pathology , sociology , biology , genetics
Summary Background Higher body mass index ( BMI ) has been associated with earlier pubertal development. Objective The aim of this longitudinal study was to determine menarcheal age in a S panish cohort and to assess its association with anthropometric variables at birth, childhood and adolescence. We also analyse whether the tracking of weight between different ages could affect the timing of menarche. Methods The sample population included 195 randomly selected 6–8‐year‐old girls who participated in the baseline of the F our P rovinces S tudy and in the follow‐up of this study at 13–16 years old. Anthropometrical variables were measured and BMI and BMI z‐score were calculated. Information regarding birth weight and menarche was obtained by means of self‐report questionnaire. Results Correlation analysis showed a significant negative association of age at menarche with weight, BMI and BMI z‐score in the baseline and follow‐up groups but not with weight at birth. Fat mass at adolescence is related to a significantly earlier menarcheal age. When comparing weight categories, earliest menarcheal age is associated with an increase of BMI between 6–8‐year‐old and 13–16‐year‐old girls. Conclusion In our study, high weight in girls is associated with the earliest age at menarche. This becomes a major influence when weight gain occurs between pre‐pubertal school age and adolescence.