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

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