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  • Title: The interrelationships between age, physical measurements and body composition at menarche in schoolgirls at Ilorin, Nigeria.
    Author: Fakeye O.
    Journal: Int J Gynaecol Obstet; 1985 Feb; 23(1):55-8. PubMed ID: 2860034.
    Abstract:
    A cross-sectional study of age, physical size and body composition at menarche was made at Ilorin, Nigeria among 162 secondary school girls who reached menarche between March and June, 1983. The findings show that the mean age, height and weight are 13.7 +/- 1.0 years, 156.2 +/- 6.3 cm and 47.4 +/- 6.7 kg, respectively. The estimated body composition is: total body water (TBW), 25.7 +/- 2.3 l; lean body mass (LBM), 35.7 +/- 3.3 kg; and fat content, 11.8 +/- 3.8 kg. Whereas the coefficient of variation was highest for fat content (32.2), it was least for height (4.0). Menarcheal age has a weak correlation to all the variables, but strong correlation existed between weight and the parameters of body composition. The findings of body composition at menarche in Nigerian and North American schoolgirls are similar. This study analyzed the interrelationships among age, physical measurements, and body composition at menarche in 162 schoolchildren in Nigeria. All subjects had reached menarche between March-June 1983. Mean age at menarche was 13.6 + or - 0.8; mean height at menarche was 156.2 + or - 0.5, and mean weight at menarche was 47.4 + or - 0.52. Total body water (TBW) was 25.7 + or - 2.31l; lean body mass (LBM) was 35.7 + or - kg; and fat content was 11.8 + or - 3.8 kg. The coefficient of variation was highest for fat content (32.2) and lowest for height (4.0). Although age at menarche was weakly correlated with the variables, there was a strong association between weight and the parameters of body composition. Body composition at menarche values were comparable between Nigerian and North American schoolchildren, although North American girls reached menarche at an earlier age and were taller than their Nigerian counterparts. These data suggest that the attainment of a body composition in the critical range triggers off menarche. However, there is no absolute value of any of the parameters examined that determines menarche.
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