Original scientific paper
Menarcheal Onset Is Associated with Body Composition Parameters but Not with Socioeconomic Status
Sylvia Kirchengast
Margit Bauer
Abstract
In the present study the menarcheal status (pre-or postmenarcheal), body composition, weight status, and socioeconomic
parameters such as type of school and parental educational level as of 1752 female adolescents ageing between 12
and 18 years (x=14.6) from rural areas of Eastern Austria were documented. Furthermore the association patterns between
body composition, socioeconomic parameters and menarcheal status were analyzed. It turned out, that body composition
parameters such as BMI, lean body mass and absolute and relative fat mass were significantly associated with
menarcheal status. Postmenarcheal girls were taller and exhibited a higher weight status, a higher absolute and relative
amount of fat mass and a higher amount of lean body mass than their premenarcheal counterparts of the same age. In
contrast to the significant association between body composition and menarcheal status, no significant impact of educational
level on menarcheal status, indicating socioeconomic status could be documented.
Keywords
menarche; body composition; weight status; socioeconomic paramet
Hrčak ID:
27387
URI
Publication date:
10.4.2007.
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