Background and aims: In addition to genes controlling the pace of growth and sexual maturation, both growth and rate of pubertal development are affected by many non-genetic factors, with nutritional status being one of the most important.
The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between BMI during menarche and pace of linear growth measured by age at TO (ATO), age at peak height velocity (APHV), growth spurt duration (∆APHV-ATO) in girls.
Methods: The study group 243 girls aged 10-16 years. Several measurements of body height and weight have been taken for each girl during girls’ development. BMI has been assessed and classified using the IOTF criteria. Girls were asked about their age at menarche. To investigate the rate of linear growth the age at TO and PHV for each girl were calculated using mathematical structural model JPA2. Other statistical analyzes were made using Kruskal-Wallis test.
Results: The average age at menarche for the entire group was 12.59 (Me = 12.52, Min = 9.9, Max = 16.0). There was a significant statistical correlation between the level of nutritional status and age at menarche. The age at menarche decreased significantly with increasing levels of nutritional status (H = 33.2, p < 0.001). Also, TO and PHV occurred earlier in girls with higher values of BMI (TO: H = 12.25, p < 0.05; PHV: H = 12.25, p < 0.05).
Conclusions: The level of nutritional status significantly affects growth and the rate of biological maturation of girls, accelerating the occurrence of menarche, TO and PHV.

THE EFFECT OF BMI DURING MENARCHE ON SELECTED MARKERS OF ADOLESCENT GROWTH SPURT IN GIRLS