Eating Habits and Age at Menarche in Junior High School Female Students in DKI Jakarta Province in 2023

Abstract

Background: The age at menarche tends to be younger in the last few decades, even though earlier or later menarche can impact physical and psychological health. Nutritional factors, including eating habits, are important and modifiable predictors of menarche age. Objectives: To analyze eating habits’ effect on the menarche age by considering factors of nutritional status, level of physical activity, psychological state, and socioeconomic conditions. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 420 female students from 15 junior high schools in DKI Jakarta Province in May 2023. Eating habits were measured using the Semi-FFQ questionnaire, while the menarche age and other factors were obtained through interviews, questionnaires, and weight and height measurements. Results: The menarche age ranged from 8.92 years to 14.33 years, with an average of 11.74 years. Respondents tend to consume carbohydrates, fat, protein, sugar, and salt ≥100% RDA. However, 70.7% of respondents have <100% RDA fiber eating habits. Low fiber diet (<29 grams/day) is significantly related to earlier menarche age based on the T-test (p=0.006) or logistic regression test after controlling for eating habits of fat, protein, and salt (p=0.047) with OR=0.569 (95% CI 0.325-0.993). The analysis also found that nutritional status and socioeconomic conditions were related to the menarche age. Conclusions: Low fiber diet has a 1.76 times chance of menarche earlier than high fiber diet. A balanced nutritional intake, including vegetables and fruit as a source of fiber, is recommended to support adolescent growth and development, puberty, and general health. Keywords: age at menarche, eating habits, fiber, junior high school female students

Keywords

• age at menarche
• eating habits
• fiber
• junior high school female students