What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine whether reaching a critical body weight triggers menarche across varying nutritional conditions and historical periods.

September 1, 1972PEDIATRICS

Weight at Menarche: Similarity for Well-Nourished and Undernourished Girls at Differing Ages, and Evidence for Historical Constancy

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Authors

RFRose E. FrischHarvard University

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Implication

Comparative study reveals consistent body weight at menarche despite differences in nutritional status and age, suggesting a critical weight threshold triggers sexual maturation.

Key Points

To determine whether reaching a critical body weight triggers menarche across varying nutritional conditions and historical periods.
Compared mean weight, height, and age at menarche between 30 undernourished girls and 30 well-nourished controls in Alabama.
Evaluated historical and modern growth records spanning over a century for mean weight at menarche in Caucasian girls.
Mean weight at menarche did not differ between the 30 undernourished girls and 30 controls, even though undernourished girls attained menarche two years later and at a significantly greater height.
Historical records indicate that the mean weight at menarche in Caucasian girls has remained constant at approximately 46 kg for over a century.

Cite This Study

Rose E. Frisch (1972) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a6fd433ac440176ef287bf1 https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.50.3.445

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Implication

Comparative study reveals consistent body weight at menarche despite differences in nutritional status and age, suggesting a critical weight threshold triggers sexual maturation.

Weight at Menarche: Similarity for Well-Nourished and Undernourished Girls at Differing Ages, and Evidence for Historical Constancy

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Weight at Menarche: Similarity for Well-Nourished and Undernourished Girls at Differing Ages, and Evidence for Historical Constancy

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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