Adult height and menarcheal age of young women in Greece

Several factors contribute to the attainment of adult height, including genetic and environmental variables. To assess the relationship between menarcheal age and adult height, measured height was regressed on recalled menarcheal age in 286 young women, 18-24 years old, candidates for recruitment in the Greek army. Height was significantly associated with menarcheal age (b = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.04-1.00, p = 0.03). Joint evaluation of age, body mass index (BMI) and menarcheal age as predictors of final height revealed that only age at menarche represents an independent predictor of final height. Finally, education in completed years of schooling and place of birth or residence did not influence adult height, and no interaction between age at menarche and these factors was observed in the present study. These data suggest that adult height of Greek women is independently associated with menarcheal age, whereas BMI, place of birth or residence and educational level do not seem to play a role of comparable significance.