O-16: The Relationship between Menarche Age and Body Mass Index in High School Girl Students in Mashhad City in The Year 2011

Background: Menstruation is a nearly universal experience in women’s lives that are considered indicators of women’s health more generally. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between Menarche age and Body Mass Index in high school girl students in Mashhad city in the year 2011.Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study that carried on 407 high-school female in Mashhad city. The sampling was two-stage method. Data was collected using a questionnaire about demographic, socioeconomic and family educational status, age of menarche and BMI. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 14 software and statistical test such as Pearson correlation test. Results: Results showed the mean (±SD) age of students were 16.26±1.05 years, age of menarche 12.82 ± 1.09 years, BMI 21.16 ± 1.02 kg/m2. 56.5% age of 14- 16y, 66.3% BMI of 18.5-24.99. 90.6% of students had working mothers, 91.7 % (n=354) moderate social status and 97% single (marital status). Also there was a negative significant relationship between age of menarche and BMI (p=0.002, r=-0.09). Conclusion: Likewise other parts of Iran, a reduction in the mean age of menarche was found in Mashhad, too; which was due to improvement of nutritional and health condition. Also due to relationship between menarche age and BMI, special attention should be paid to ideal weight, proper nutrition and sufficient physical activities in this high-risk group.