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

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/m(2)) = Weight (kg) / Height 2 (m(2)). 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/m(2.) One hundred and eight (27%) were underweight with a BMI of 14 - 18.49kg/m(2), while sixteen (4%) were overweight with BMI 25 - 29.99 kg/m(2). A statistically significant relationship was found between BMI and social class (P<0.001) and BMI and menstrual pattern P<0.001). Conclusion : The study concludes that a majority of the girls had clinically obvious nutritional deficiency diseases. Out of the four hundred and one girls who were checked, two hundred thirty one were found to be anemic. Majority of the girls (84%) had a normal menstrual pattern, normal BMI and attained menarche before the age of 16. Overweight girls had infrequent periods.