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.
Highlights
Menarche is a milestone for adolescent girls
The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between age at menarche and socioeconomic factors in a population from Shaanxi Province and to examine the relationship between menarcheal age and growth status indicators, such as height, weight and Body mass index (BMI)
The distribution of age at menarche according to geographic characteristics and BMI percentile is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively
Summary
Menarche 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. Very few studies [2] have addressed the associations between height, weight, BMI and menarche among adolescent girls in less developed areas, such as the northwest and southwest of China. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between age at menarche and socioeconomic factors in a population from Shaanxi Province and to examine the relationship between menarcheal age and growth status indicators, such as height, weight and BMI
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
