目的:探討臺北學齡女童初經年齡與身高、體重及身體質量指數間的關聯。方法:於2005年1月起,以分層分段隨機取樣,選擇臺北市國小三年級到高中一年級8個年齡層共計有效樣本985位,從事橫斷面研究,由學校校護協助測量樣本之身高、體重,或由學校健康紀錄取得資料。另由樣本學生填寫有關初經的結構式問卷,並依據行政院衛生署公佈之女生BMI正常值為依據,區分研究樣本為營養正常或營養不佳兩組,本研究比較此兩組之初經體重。結果:女學童之初經年齡為12.11±1.04歲,95%可信度為10.07~14.15歲,初經體重為45.40±8.17公斤,身高為153.44±6.53公分,而BMI為19.26±3.10kg/平方公尺。16.2%之女學童屬於BMI過高,15.4%屬於BMI過低,其餘68.4%則為BMI正常組。比較不同BMI組,發現BMI過高組之初經體重為55.8±5.07公斤,BMI正常組42.5±3.53公斤,BMI過輕組36.9±2.14公斤,彼此間有統計學上顯著差異。BMI過高組之初經年齡為12.2±0.45歲,正常組為11.7±0.61歲,過低組為12.1±0.66歲,彼此間亦有統計學上顯著差異。於國小五、六年級及國中一年級有月經之女童生長指標,皆高於未有月經者,且呈現統計學上有意義差異。結論:本研究之初經體重與Frisch提出臨界初經體重46公斤相仿,而與15年前類似研究比較則顯示:初經體重重2.4公斤,初經年齡提早0.37歲,而依BMI分組之本土資料,則可為相關學者參考或臨床應用。關於初經來潮受到先天基因、後天環境及營養、內分泌影響,故需進一步研究與探討。
Background and Purpose: To investigate the relationship between age at menarche to body height, weight, and body mass index in Taipei schoolgirls. Methods: Nine hundred eighty five schoolgirls, third grade elementary school to first grade senior high school, were enrolled in a cross-sectional study by multiple stages randomized sampling method. The body height and body weight were measured by school nurses or collected from school health records. The menarcheal data was collected from self-administrated questionnaires. According to the BMI norms for children and adolescents published by Department of Health, Executive Yuan, we divided samples as wellnourished and undernourished groups, then compared the menarcheal body weights among one another. Results: The menarcheal age of schoolgirls is 12.11±1.04 years old with 95% C.l., 10.07~14.15 years old, while the menarcheal body weight 45.40±8.17kg, body height 153.44±6.53cm, BMI 19.26±3.10kg/m^2. 16.2% of attendee is catagorized as high BMI group, while 15.4% as low BMI group, the other 68.4% as normal BMI groups. Comparing the menarcheal weight among three groups (high BMI group 55.8±5.07kg, normal BMI groups 42.5±3.53kg, low BMI group 36.9±2.14kg), showed significant difference statistically. Comparing the menarcheal age among three groups (the high BMI group is 12.2±0.45 years old, the normal BMI group 11.7±0.61 years old, the low BMI group 12.1±0.66 years old), showed significant difference statistically. The Arthropometric data of schoolgirls with menstruation is statistical higher then those without menstruation among fifth grade elementary schools to first grade junior high school respectively. Conclusion: The menarcheal weight of our study is similar to the Frisch's hypothesis critical weight of 46kg. Comparing to the similar study done in Taipei fifteen years ago, the menarcheal body weight of this study is heavier by 2.4kg, and menarcheal age less by 0.37 year. The menarcheal data according to BMI grouping can be implemented by local clinicians or further studied by scholars. Since the menarche is influenced by hereditary genetics, surrounding environment, nutrition, and endocrinological status, there exist enormous questions that's needed to be explored.