title: Puberty in a sample of Brazilian schoolgirls: timing and anthropometric characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine the age at which puberty begins, age of menarche and anthropometric data of the participants at different stages of puberty.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional study in which we evaluated 665 girls, a sample representing the female schoolchildren population in Uberaba.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that thelarche, pubarche, underarm hair and menarche were attained at the age of 9.8 ± 1.4, 10.2 ± 1.4, 10.5 ± 1.5 and 11.7 ± 1.3 years, respectively. The mean interval between thelarche and menarche (ITM) was 1.7 ± 1.3 years. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 31.3% and 95% of the participants began at thelarche between the age of 7 and 12 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These values indicate a secular tendency to the decrease of the age of menarche and an earlier start of puberty. It is very important to understand these parameters to establish public policies aimed at plans to prevent these early events, especially regarding control of the prevalence of obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Taciana Carla Maia
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Feibelmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriana Paula da
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela Cristina Silva
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Resende
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elisabete Aparecida Mantovani Rodrigues de
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Resende
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, UFTM, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lúcia Marina
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Scatena
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria de Fátima
authors.initials: Mde F
authors.lastname: Borges
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D000886:Anthropometry; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008572:Menarche / Q000502:physiology*; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires