Adiposity level, fat distribution and age at menarche in Bengali girls from Kolkata, India

Abstract

Background: The onset of menarche is influenced by various factors, including genetic, morphological and socioeconomic factors. Objectives: The study aimed to examine the differences in adiposity levels and fat distribution between early, average, and late maturing girls from Kolkata, India. Sample and Methods: 936 Bengali girls included in a cross-sectional study were categorized as early, average or late maturing. The examination was school-based and conducted from 2005 to 2011. Six skinfolds (biceps, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac, abdominal and calf) were measured. Trunk-to-limbs, trunk-to-total, abdominal-to-trunk skinfold ratios, and total adiposity were calculated. Statistical differences between all menarche categories were assessed using Student t-test or Mann-Whitney test. Results: Early maturing girls were characterized by greater overall (% BF: early=24.3; average=24.0; late=23.8; p>0.05) and abdominal adiposity (as represented by skinfold thicknesses and values of studied indicators), compared to those with late or average age at menarche. Conclusions: Early menarche was associated with a tendency towards central adiposity and thus, increased risk of abdominal obesity. Future research should explore the association between the age at menarche and metabolic characteristics in ethnically diverse populations. Longitudinal studies and studies conducted on large cohorts are particularly valuable. It would be beneficial to adjust the results for factors such as diet or physical activity, as well as for ethnic characteristics in relation to the body's tissue composition.