[Early age at menarche - relationship with socioeconomic status and selected factors connected with health status].
BACKGROUND
Current research from around the world indicates a trend toward younger ages at the first menstruation. At the same time more and more studies point out the negative consequences of early puberty. Early age at menarche is significantly correlated with the risk of metabolic syndrome, breast cancer and female reproductive system cancer, as well as illnesses such asthma and bulimia. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between age at menarche and socioeconomic status and selected factors connected with biological conditions.


METHODS
The data were obtained from 671 female university students. Height, weight, waist and hip circumference were measured, and BMI, WHR, WHtR were calculated. A questionnaire form was used to assess the age at menarche, biological conditions and socioeconomic status of the surveyed students.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in the number of the early, average and late maturing students between the socioeconomic groups. The early maturing girls were characterized by higher values of waist circumference, BMI, WHR and WHtR. The prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity was highest among the early maturing girls. The analysis did not show statistically significant relationships between age at menarche and selected factors connected with biological conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Early maturation increases the risk of obesity and central adiposity distribution.
Karolina
K
Olszewska
Katarzyna
K
Kliś
Iwona
I
Teul
Iwona
I
Wronka
D000067697:Adolescent Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017668:Age of Onset; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008572:Menarche / Q000502:physiology*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult