Osong Public Health Res Perspect.  2016 Aug;7(4):266-272. 10.1016/j.phrp.2016.04.010.

Timing of Spermarche and Menarche are Associated with Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Among Korean Adolescents

• Lee EY
• Pabayo R
• Kawachi I

• KMID: 2518279
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrp.2016.04.010

Abstract

Objectives
This study examined the timing of menarche and spermarche and their associations with physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) after controlling for body mass index (BMI).
Methods
Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine whether the timing of menarche in girls and spermarche in boys is associated with PA and SB independent of BMI in a nationally representative sample of Korean adolescents (13–18 years; N = 74,186).
Results
After controlling for age, family economic status, and BMI, early timing of spermarche among boys was associated with a higher likelihood of engaging in PA and a lower likelihood of engaging in SB for < 2 hours during weekdays. By contrast, boys with late timing of spermarche were less likely to engage in PA and more likely to engage in SB for < 2 hours. Among girls, early or late timing of menarche was associated with a higher likelihood of engaging in PA and a lower likelihood of engaging in SB.
Conclusion
Timing of menarche in girls and spermarche in boys could be a marker for PA and SB among Korean adolescents. To promote PA and discourage SB among Korean adolescents, school-based, grade-specific interventions can be tailored by the absence or presence of menarche/spermarche.

Keyword

Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey; Korean adolescents; physical activity; pubertal timing; sedentary behavior