title: Brief Report: Maternal Age of Menarche and Adiposity: Evidence from Hong Kong's "Children of 1997" Birth Cohort.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Earlier age of menarche predicts chronic diseases. Earlier maternal age of menarche is also associated with higher body mass index (BMI) and height into childhood.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used generalized estimating equations in Hong Kong's "Children of 1997" birth cohort to examine the adjusted association of maternal age of menarche with BMI and height z score, and whether associations varied by maternal birthplace.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Earlier maternal age of menarche was not associated with infant BMI but was associated subsequently with higher BMI in childhood and at puberty. Maternal age of menarche was negatively associated with height in children of Hong Kong-born mothers, but positively associated with infant length for children with mothers born in China (P value for interaction 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These different patterns suggest drivers of adiposity and linear growth differ, and are more influential in some circumstances. Understanding these drivers may indicate setting-specific interventions to prevent childhood obesity.
authors.affiliation: From the aSchool of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China; and bCity University of New York, School of Public Health and Hunter College, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Tsz Chun
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Shiu Lun
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Au Yeung
authors.forename: Shi Lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Gabriel Matthew
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: C Mary
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Schooling
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008572:Menarche; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies