Maturational Timing and Overweight Prevalence in US Adolescent Girls

Citation

Adair, L. & Gordon-Larsen, P. (2001). Maturational Timing and Overweight Prevalence in US Adolescent Girls. American Journal of Public Health. vol. 91 (4) pp. 642-644 , PMCID: PMC1446647

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the relation of age at menarche to overweight in US adolescent girls. METHODS: Effects of age at menarche and race/ethnicity on overweight were estimated via logistic regression, after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, in a sample of 6507 Hispanic, Black, White, and Asian American girls who participated in wave 2 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. RESULTS: Overweight prevalence rates were significantly higher in early maturing adolescents of all racial/ethnic groups but highest (57.5%) among early maturing Black girls. Early maturation nearly doubled the odds of being overweight (body mass index at or above the 85th percentile). CONCLUSIONS: Greater public health attention should be focused on the high prevalence of overweight, particularly among minority female adolescents.

URL

https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.91.4.642

Keyword(s)

Weight

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

American Journal of Public Health

Author(s)

Adair, L.
Gordon-Larsen, P.

Year Published

2001

Volume Number

91

Issue Number

4

Pages

642-644

DOI

10.2105/AJPH.91.4.642

PMCID

PMC1446647

Reference ID

58