Menarcheal Age, Nutritional Status and of Adolescent Girls of Salboni Block of West Medinipur, West Bengal, India

Age at menarche is a significant indicator of growth and sexual maturation in girls. During adolescence, anthropometry provides a tool for monitoring and evaluating the hormone-mediated changes in growth and reproductive maturation, Menarche is defined as the first menstrual period. It is considered to be the most obvious sign of puberty in girls. It has been regarded in many cultures as a transitional step to womanhood.

This is a cross sectional study which is done on 1009 school girls were who belong to Salboni block of district Paschim Medinipur of West Bengal, India. To study effect of nutrition on age at Menarche, different anthropometric measurements are applied. The study had been done on 10-19 Adolescents school girls(1009). For this study different types of anthropometric measurements were taken like Weight, Height. Height is measured through Anthropometric rod, by weighing machine. Triceps and biceps Skinfold are taken by skinfold Caliper skin folds are measured. Structured questionnaires were followed to know details socio-economic status. Height was measured to the nearest 0.1 cm and weight to the nearest 0.5 kg. Each subject was weighed with minimum clothing and no footwear. Among studied sample 896 girls had experienced menarche, Their mean age at menarche is 11.88 years(1.23). To compare anthropometric variable premenarchel and postmenarcheal girls that mean anthropometric measurement of premenarcheal girls more higher than post menarcheal girls in studied girls minimum age at menarche is 9 years and maximum age at menarche is 17 ye Body mass Index increased progressively from 13 years to 19 years of age where overall increase was (1.89 kg/m²) from 10 to 19 years which is statistically significant with age (F=17.3,P<0.001), Percent body fat is statistically significant with Age(F=38.7,P<0.001) ars. Nutritional status are better in Postmenarcheal girls than Premenarcheal girls, The study represents typical differential rates of positive change in different body composition measures after the attainment of menarche.