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Is there any association between age at menarche and anthropometric indices? A 15-year follow-up population-based cohort study

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Abstract

Anthropometric indices (AI) have been known to be associated with age at menarche (AAM). The aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the changes in AI and its association with AAM in a community-based population in Iran. From among 10,192 women, we included 6818, aged ≥ 10 years, who were post-menarche at the time of entering the study and their AAM ranged between 8 and 18 years. Study subjects were divided into groups by tertiles birth cohort (BC) (born ≤ 1939, 1940–1969, and ≥ 1970) and AAM (≤ 11, 12–15, and ≥ 16 years). Generalized estimating equation analysis was performed to evaluate the association between changes of AI in different BCs with AAM groups. Overall mean of AAM was 13.5 ± 1.4 years. Mean body mass index (BMI) was significantly increased over time more in those with early AAM (≤ 11 years) compared to those with AAM ≥ 16 years; changes in mean BMI of 1.24 kg/m2 (95% CI 0.32, 2.15), 2.61 kg/m2 (95% CI 1.90, 3.33), and 3.99 kg/m2 (95% CI 2.46, 5.51) in BC ≥ 1970, BC (1940–1969), and, BC ≤ 1939, respectively.

Conclusion: Our findings showed an inverse association of AAM with mean BMI, waist to height ratio, and waist circumference, an association weaker in younger women compared to other age groups.

What is Known:

• Limited data are available on the association of menarcheal age with anthropometric indices.

• Previous studies reported conflicting and inclusive results of this association.

What is New:

• Our results can provide beneficial information on the association of menarcheal age with anthropometric indices based on different age groups.

• This long follow-up study shows an association of menarcheal age with anthropometric indices which are stronger in older women except for height.

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Abbreviations

AAM:

Age at menarche

AI:

Anthropometric indices

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

BC:

Birth cohort

BMI:

Body mass index

CI:

Confidence interval

GEE:

Generalized estimating equation

IQRs:

Interquartile ranges

WC:

Waist circumference

WHtR:

Waist to height ratio

SD:

Standard deviation

TLGS:

Tehran Lipid and glucose study

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to all the study participants for the substantial time and effort given to the present investigation. The present study was approved by the ethical review board of the Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, approval number: IR.SBMU.ENDOCRINE.REC.1396.564. Thanks are also due to the research staff at the TLGS Unit and personnel of the Research Endocrine Laboratory. The authors wish to acknowledge Ms. Niloofar Shiva for critical editing of the English grammar and syntax of the manuscript. This work was supported by a project of the Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Maryam Farahmand & Fahimeh Ramezani Tehrani

  2. Prevention of Metabolic Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Davood Khalili

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Davood Khalili & Leila Cheraghi

  4. Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Fereidoun Azizi

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  1. Maryam Farahmand
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Contributions

MF contributed to the study design, data analysis, manuscript drafting, and critical discussion. FRT contributed to the study design and execution, data analysis, manuscript drafting, and critical discussion. DK contributed to the study design and execution, and data analysis. LC contributed to data analysis and manuscript drafting. FA contributed to the study design and execution and manuscript drafting.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fahimeh Ramezani Tehrani.

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Communicated by Peter de Winter

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Farahmand, M., Ramezani Tehrani, F., Khalili, D. et al. Is there any association between age at menarche and anthropometric indices? A 15-year follow-up population-based cohort study. Eur J Pediatr 179, 1379–1388 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-020-03575-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-020-03575-x

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