Age at menarche and postmenarcheal growth in rural Bangladeshi females

This study examines the role of chronological age and time since menarche (TSM) as determinants of postmenarcheal growth in height and weight in a chronically malnourished population of rural Bangladeshi females aged 10-20 years. Height and weight measurements were collected for 12 months from 290 postmenarcheal girls, with known times since menarche, and on 118 girls who reached menarche during the one year follow-up. Two stage regression analysis was employed to study the relationship of age and time since menarche to postmenarcheal growth in height and weight, while adjusting for socioeconomic status. TSM is a more important determinant of postmenarcheal growth in height and weight than is age. For postmenarcheal growth in weight, the regression coefficient for TSM is six…