The Association of Overweight and Obesity with Menarche Age and Nutritional Status in Girls Aged 11-15 in Mashhad"

IntroductionThe relationship between obesity and puberty is still controversial. This study examined this issue in girls in pubertal age in Mashhad.Materials and MethodsA total of1300 healthy girls aged 11-15, in Mashhad public guidance schools were recruited from all 7 urban educational regions using double-stages cluster sampling method. Demographic and anthropometric data were collected using standard methods. Data of dietary habits and intakes were collected using a valid questionnaire (230 subjects) and a 24-h recall (216 subjects) respectively. Age of menarche was also recorded for pubertal girls. BMI between 85-95 percentiles was defined as overweight and BMI≥95 percentile as obesity (based on BMI percentiles of WHO references for age and sex).Survival Analysis method was used.ResultsPrevalence of overweight and obesity were 11.5% and 10.3% respectively.63% of subjects had experienced menarche with mean menarche age of 13 ± 0.06 yrs. There was shown a significant correlation of BMI with menarche occurrence and menarche age (r=0.33, r=-0.2 respectively, P< 0.001].Menarche age was 13.1±0.07 yrs in normal group and 12.2±0.07 yrs in overweight and obese subjects (P< 0.001).Overweight and obese girls had consumed less frequently breakfast and more snacks than normal ones. Their frequency of intake for spaghetti, ice cream, sweets, nuts, chips and sweetened beverages was also significantly higher than that of normal girls.ConclusionIn girls with higher BMI menarche are more likely occurred in lower ages and their dietary patterns are different compared to those with normal BMI.