Comparison of Obesity and Growth Development in Menarcheal and Nonmenarcheal Girls

Kim, Eun Kyung; Lee, Sun Hee

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the growth development between age-matched 51 postmenarcheal girls (mean age 153.1+/-5.8 month) who were rapidly maturing and 51 premenarcheal girls (mean age 153.1+/-5.7 month) who were slowly maturing. Anthropometirc measurements were taken for height, body weight, body fat(%), waist and hip circumferences of subjects. These measurements of menarcheal girls were significantly higher than those of nonmenarcheal girls. There was no significant difference in BMI distribution between two groups. However, 43.2% and 20.0% respectively in the menarcheal and nonmenarcheal girls had body fat levels of 30% or above. There were significant differences in the anthropometric measurements during past 4 years from 3rd grade elementary school to present. The greatest difference between the two groups were the amount and the rate of increased height and body weight from age 9 to 10. Among menarcheal girls, height, body weight, BMI, and Rohrer index were positively related to the onset of menarche. Distinctively, there was a stronger relationship between age at menarche and anthropometric measurements when the girls were 5th grade elementary school children. These findings support that during childhood and puberty, obese girls grow faster and have earlier menarche. Furthermore, the importance of prevention of obesity was recognized in order to accelerate growth of height among the girls by delaying the age of menarche.