Body mass index, regional adiposity and central body fat distribution among Bengalee Hindu girls: A comparative study of pre-menarcheal and menarcheal subjects
Bhadra, M.; Mukhopadhyay, A.; Bose, K.S.
Acta Medica Auxologica 33(1): 39-45
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-6004 Document Number: 264513
A comparative study of 111 pre-menarcheal (PMG) and 123 menarcheal (MG) Bengalee Hindu girls was carried out to investigate differences in body mass index (BMI), regional adiposity (circumferences and skinfolds) and central body fat distribution (waist-hip ratio and conicity index). The results showed that menarcheal girls (MG) had significantly greater values for mean height, weight, BMI, minimum waist, maximum hip, abdomen, chest, thigh and mid-upper arm circumferences; and subscapular, suprailiac, midaxillary, chest, abdomen, triceps, biceps, forearm, medial calf and anterior thigh skinfolds, compared with pre-menarcheal girls (PMG). However both groups had similar central body fat distribution, i.e., waist-hip ratio (WHR) and conicity index (CI). Attainment of menarche had significant positive effect on all anthropometric measures except the two indices of central body fat distribution, WHR and CI. This significant impact of menarcheal status remained on height (p < 0.0001), weight (p < 0.0001), minimum waist (p < 0.0001) maximum hip (p < 0.0001), chest (p < 0.0001), abdomen (p < 0.0001), thigh (p < 0.0001), medial calf (p < 0.0001) and mid upper arm (p < 0.0001) circumferences and subscapular (p < 0.0005), suprailiac (p < 0.0001), midaxillary (p < 0.0001), abdomen (p < 0.005), chest (p < 0.0005), triceps (p < 0.0005), biceps (p < 0.005), anterior thigh (p < 0.005) and medial calf (p < 0.0001), skinfolds even after controlling BMI.