Circunferencia abdominal y maduración sexual en escolares y adolescentes femeninas de la ciudad de Mérida. Abdominal circumference and sexual maturation in females schoolchildren of Merida city

Abstract

The biological mechanisms associated between being overweight and sexual maturation remain unclear, but it has been established that overweight children have earlier sexual development. Objective: To determine the relationship between abdominal circumference and sexual maturation in female schoolchildren from educational institutions in the city of Merida, 2017. Methodology: Comparative, field and cross-sectional study was carried out, with a sample of 217 girls and adolescents from educational institutions, aged between 9 and 17 years. All girls with chronic diseases and endocrine disorders were excluded. Results: It was found that 132 girls (60.83%) presented a normal nutritional state, 36 (16.59%) and 49 (22.58%) of the remaining ones were below the norm and above the norm respectively. It was found that the average age of onset of menarche is inversely proportional to the nutritional status, this difference was not statistically significant. When comparing the abdominal circumference of normal girls and above the norm with the stage of development of the mammary gland (GM) and the stage of pubic hair (VP), a greater abdominal circumference was found for each stage of sexual maturation, being this difference statistically significant for all stages. Conclusions: The abdominal circumference is closely related to all the stages of sexual maturation, both for the mammary gland and for pubic hair, the greater the abdominal circumference the faster the Tanner stages are reached.