Relation of childhood diet and body size to menarche and adolescent growthin girls

Adolescent growth and development may be affected by factors such as dietar y intake and body size from much earlier in childhood. In a longitudinal st udy of 67 Caucasian girls in Boston, Massachusetts, data were collected pro spectively from birth during the 1930s and 1940s. Heights and weights were measured semiannually, and dietary history interviews were conducted with m others. Stepwise linear regression methods were used to seek factors which best predicted age at menarche, adolescent peak height growth velocity, and the age at which peak growth velocity occurred. Girls who consumed more (e nergy-adjusted) animal protein and less vegetable protein at ages 3-5 years had earlier menarche, and girls aged 1-2 years with higher dietary fat int akes and girls aged 6-8 years with higher animal protein intakes became ado lescents with earlier peak growth. Controlling for body size, girls who con sumed more calories and animal protein 2 years before peak growth had highe r peak growth velocity. These findings may have implications regarding adul t diseases whose risks are associated with adolescent growth and developmen t factors.