Body Mass Index Influences the Age at Menarche and Duration of Menstrual Cycle

Abstract

Abstract:The changing trends in the prevalence of childhood obesity, early puberty and menarche, and ethnoracial differences in the effect of BMI on the reproductive characteristics of young females around the world, warrants continuous evaluation. Hence, this study aims to investigate possible variations in the influence of BMI on the age at menarche as well as duration of menstrual cycle and menses in young girls in two urban areas in southern Nigeria. Participants (n = 52; median age = 20 years) were classified into 3 groups: normal, NM (n = 27; BMI = 21.0 ± 2.0 Kg/m 2 ), overweight, OW (n = 14; BMI = 28.1 ± 1.2 Kg/m 2 ) and obese, OB (n = 11; BMI = 31.5 ± 0.6 Kg/m 2 ). BMI was calculated from the equation; BMI = weight, kg/height, m 2 . Cross-sectional data on menarche and menstrual cycle patterns were obtained through selfadministered questionnaires. Data analysis showed a statistically significant difference in the BMI (p< 0.0001). Though the mean(± SD) ages at menarche were similar (NM = 13.0 ± 1.2 years; OW = 12.9 ± 0.9 years; OB = 13.7 ± 0.9 years)(p> 0.05), the average duration of the menstrual cycle (NM = 27.3 ± 1.4 days; OW = 27.9 ± 0.6 days; OB = 29.4 ± 1.4 days) and menstrual bleeding (NM = 4.4 ± 0.6 days; OW = 4.4 ± 0.8 days; OB = 5.4 ± 0.9 days) differed significantly according to the BMI (p< 0.0001 and p< 0.05 respectively). There was an increase in the average length of the menstrual cycle and menses with increased BMI (r = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.28 -0.69, p< 0.0001) and (r = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.12 -0.59, p< 0.05) respectively. However, the correlation between BMI and age at menarche was weak (r = 0.25, 95% CI = -0.02 -0.49, p> 0.05); and the average duration of the menstrual cycle tend to decrease with older menarcheal age, though this was not statistically significant p> 0.05). Girls with higher BMI experience longer menstrual cycle and menses compared to their normal weight counterparts. The effect of BMI on age at menarche and the relationship between early onset of menarche and the duration of menstrual cycles and menses later in life may not be causal. Further investigations may resolve these differences in relation to the reproductive characteristics of young females.

Comparison of anthropometrical parameters and dietary habits of young women with and without menstrual disorders

“…Also in the work of Chavarro et al, 1,8 BMI values greater than 30 kg/m 2 occurred more frequently in women with ovulation disorders. This relationship has also been confirmed by Osayande et al, 9 Chang et al 10 and Alam et al 11 In the study of Dars et al, 12 75% of women with normal BMIs showed normal menstrual cycles, which is very similar to the result obtained in this study, where 78% of OG with normal menstrual cycles had normal BMI values. As indicated by Dars et al, 12 menstrual cycle disorders in women with excessive weight may result from (among other factors) the excessive synthesis of insulin and androgen hormones.…”

“…Also in the work of Chavarro et al ., BMI values greater than 30 kg/m 2 occurred more frequently in women with ovulation disorders. This relationship has also been confirmed by Osayande et al ., Chang et al . and Alam et al .…”

Hubungan Indeks Massa Tubuh dengan Usia Menarche Siswi Sekolah Dasar Kelas 4 – 6 di Kecamatan Sukajadi

“…Penelitian yang dilakukan di Arab Saudi membuktikan bahwa adanya korelasi positif antara usia menarche ibu dengan usia menarche anak dengan r=0,411, p<0,001, 8 sedangkan penelitian di Nigeria menyatakan bahwa peningkatan IMT akan memengaruhi durasi siklus menstruasi dan lamanya perdarahan saat menstruasi dengan p<0,0001 dan p<0,05. 19 Penelitian ini bertentangan dengan dengan penelitian yang dilakukan di Kuwait dengan p=0,001 dan Seoul dengan p<0,05 yang menyatakan adanya korelasi antara IMT dengan usia menarche. 15,20 Perbedaan yang terjadi ini diakibatkan karena penggunaan desain penelitian yang berbeda, kriteria inklusi dan ekslusi, dan perbedaan prevalensi seseorang dengan berat badan berlebih serta obesitas.…”

“…Keterbatasan pada penelitian ini juga dipengaruhi karena pengambilan data dengan teknik cross sectional, berat badan dan tinggi badan yang diambil adalah post menarche. 8,19 Menarche itu sendiri dialami seseorang satu tahun setelah seseorang mengalami peningkatan tinggi badan yang signifikan dan sesaat sebelum atau bersamaan dengan peningkatan yang signifikan terhadap berat badan, indeks massa tubuh, dan lemak tubuh. 16 Lemak tubuh akan menurun dengan tajam setelah terjadinya…”

Hubungan Asupan Sugar-Sweetened Beverage dan Mssa Lemak Tubuh dengan Kejadian Menarche Dini

“…Menarche yang terlalu dini dihubungkan dengan efek kesehatan seperti meningkatnya risiko penyakit kanker payudara, kanker ovarium, kanker rahim, diabetes mellitus tipe 2, sindrom metabolik, hipertensi, dan penyakit kardiovaskuler. 4,5 Studi kohort menunjukkan bahwa menarche dini di usia kurang dari 12 tahun berkaitan dengan indeks massa tubuh yang besar dan resistensi insulin saat dewasa. Resistensi insulin menginduksi hiperinsulinemia dan menyebabkan diabetes mellitus tipe 2, dimana hal ini berkaitan dengan tingginya risiko kejadian penyakit kardiovaskuler dengan risiko relatif sebesar 1,15.…”