Reproductive health of adolescent girls with overweight and obesity living in a large industrial region

Abstract

AIM: This study aimed to assess the reproductive health of adolescent girls with obesity living in a large industrial territory. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A one-time study was conducted on 105 teenage girls aged 15–17 years. The main group consisted of 70 girls with overweight and obesity, who were divided into a group with menstrual irregularities (N1=42) and without disorders (N2=28). The control group included 35 girls with normal body weight and no menstrual irregularities. Morbidity was studied. Body mass index (BMI), pituitary (thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH], follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone) and sex hormones (estradiol, DHEA-SO4, AMH, and testosterone), alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total cholesterol, and ultrasound data of the thyroid gland and abdominal organs were determined. A quantitative assessment of treatment adherence and lifestyle modification was performed. RESULTS: The average BMI values in the main and control groups were 31.1 (4.9) and 20.0 (1.9) kg/m2, respectively (p 0.001). A statistically significant predominance of the incidence of cardiovascular pathologies was found in the main group (χ2=2.58, p=0.014; OR=5.7; 95% CI, 1.2–26.2), as well as a more frequent occurrence of urinary tract, nervous system, and endocrine diseases. In the main group, echographic signs of liver and pancreatic pathologies were detected in 22 (31.4%) girls and diffuse changes in the thyroid gland in combination with cystic formations or hypoplasia in 31 (44.0%). The number of antral follicles was normal in all patients. A statistically significant difference in TSH (p 0.001), LH (p=0.015), and DHEA-SO4 (p=0.002) was obtained between the main and control groups. Adolescents aged 15 years were more adherent to treatment (χ2=13.28; p=0.003). CONCLUSION: Statistically significant differences in clinical and laboratory data and treatment adherence were found in adolescent girls with overweight and obesity living in a large industrial region when compared with healthy girls, which dictates the need to improve and implement personalized medical and psychological programs.