Relationship of menstrual irregularities to BMI and nutritional status in adolescent girls

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Body Mass Index and nutritional status on the menstrual pattern in adolescent girls.

Methods: Four hundred one adolescent girls who attained menarche were selected from five schools in Hyderabad. The data was collected by trained medical undergraduate and postgraduates by interviewing adolescent school girls using a pre-designed pre-tested questionnaire. BMI was calculated using the formula: BMI (kg/m2) = Weight (kg) / Height 2 (m2). Hb was estimated by Sahlis method using a haemoglobinometer. Data was analyzed using SPSS 11.0.

Results: The mean age of the girls was 14.96 +/- 1.5 years. Three hundred and five (76%) of the girls had a normal menstrual cycle, twenty-eight (7 %) had frequent periods, fifty-two (13%) had infrequent periods and sixteen (4%) of the girls had totally irregular cycles and a pattern could not be determined. Three hundred and five (76%) of girls had a normal menstrual flow, sixty-eight (17%) had heavy flow and twenty-eight (7%) had scanty flow. One hundred fifty two (38%) of girls complained of premenstrual symptoms. Two hundred thirty one (60%) girls were clinically anemic. Two hundred and seventy seven (69%) had a BMI between 18.5 - 24.9 kg/m2. One hundred and eight (27%) were underweight with a BMI of 14