Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fatness, Puberty, and Fertility The Effects of Nutrition and Physical Training on Menarche and Ovulation

  • Chapter
Girls at Puberty

Abstract

It is a common sense observation that girls and boys first must “grow up” before becoming capable of reproduction. But on what scale is the “growing-up” best measured: age, height, weight, skeletal age, or some other measure of the body? And how is the synchronization of the “grownupness” and reproductive ability brought about (Kennedy and Mitra, 1963)? In this chapter, the relationship of measures of maturation and reproductive ability in the adolescent female will be explored.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Behnke, A. R., Feen, G. B., and Welham, W. C. The specific gravity of healthy men. Body weight: Volume as an index of obesity. Journal of The American Medical Association, 1942, 118, 495–498.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bishop, W. H. M. Aging and reproduction in the male. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 1970, 12, 65–87.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boyar, R. M., Katz, J., Finkelstein, J. W., Kapen, S., Weiner, H., Weitzman, E. D., and Hellman, L. Anorexia Nervosa: Immaturity of the 24-hour luteinizing hormone secretory pattern. New England Journal of Medicine, 1974, 291, 861–865.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bulmer, M. G. The biology of twinning in man. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crisp, A. H. Anorexia nervosa: ‘Feeding disorder; ’nervous malnutrition,’ or ’weight phobia’? World Review of Nutrition and Dietetics, 1970, 12, 452–504.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fishman, J., Boyar, R. M., and Hellman, L. Influence of body weight on estradiol metabolism in young women. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 1975, 41, 989–991.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Friis-Hansen, B. J. Changes in body water compartments during growth. Acta Paediatrica (Stockholm), Supplement 110, 1956, 1–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frisch, R. E. Weight at menarche: Similarity for well nourished and undernourished girls at differing ages, and evidence for historical constancy. Pediatrics,1972, 50(3),445450.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frisch, R. E. Influences on age of menarche. Lancet, 1973, 1, 1007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frisch, R. E. Demographic implications of the biological determinants of female fecundity. Social Biology, 1975, 22, 17–22.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frisch, R. E. Fatness of girls from menarche to age 18 years, with a nomogram. Human Biology, 1976, 48, 353–359.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frisch, R. E. Food intake, fatness and reproductive ability. In R. Vigersky (Ed.), Anorexia nervosa. New York: Raven Press, 1977, 149–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frisch, R. E. Population, food intake and fertility. Science, 1978, 199, 22–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frisch, R. E. Pubertal adipose tissue: is it necessary for normal sexual maturation? Evidence from the rat and human female. Federation Proceedings, 1980, 39, 2395–2400.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frisch, R. E., and McArthur, J. Menstrual cycles: Fatness as a determinant of minimum weight for height necessary for their maintenance or onset. Science, 1974, 185, 949–951.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frisch, R. E., and Revelle, R. Variation in body weights and the age of the adolescent growth spurt among Latin American and Asian populations, in relation to calorie supplies. Human Biology, 1969, 41, 185–212.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frisch, R. E., and Revelle, R. Height and weight at menarche and a hypothesis of menarche. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 1971, 46, 695–701.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frisch, R. E., Revelle, R., and Cook S. Components of weight at menarche and the initiation of the adolescent growth spurt in girls: estimated total water, lean body weight and fat. Human Biology, 1973, 45, 469–483.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frisch, R. E., Hegsted, D. M., and Yoshinaga, K. Body weight and food intake at early estrus of rats on a high fat diet. Proceedings of The National Academy of Science (U.S.A.), 1975, 72, 4172–4176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frisch, R. E., Hegsted, D. M., and Yoshinaga, K. Carcass components at first estrus of rats on high fat and low fat diets: Body water, protein and fat. Proceedings of The National Academy of Science (U.S.A.), 1977, 74, 379–383.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frisch, R. E., Canick, J. A., and Tulchinsky, D. Human fatty marrow aromatizes androgen to estrogen. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 1980, 51, 394–396.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frisch, R. E., Wyshak, G., and Vincent, L. Delayed menarche and amenorrhea of ballet dancers. New England Journal of Medicine, 1980, 303, 17–19.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frisch, R. E., v. Gotz-Welbergen, A., McArthur, J. W., Albright, T., Witschi, J., Bullen, B., Birnholz, J., Reed, R. B., and Hermann, H. Delayed menarche and amenorrhea of college athletes in relation to age of onset of training. Journal of the American Medical Association, 1981a, 246, 1559–1563.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frisch, R. E., v. Gotz-Welbergen, A., McArthur, J. W., Abright, T., Witschi, J., Bullen, B., Birnholz, J., Reed, R. B., and Hermann, H. Abstract No. 147, Program, Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society, Cincinnati, Ohio, June, 1981, 1981b, 119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammond, J. (Ed.). Progress in the physiology of farm animals (Vol. 2 ). London: Butterworths, 1955.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartz, A. J., Barboriak, P. N., Wong, A., Katayama, K. P., and Rimm, A. A. The association of obesity with infertility and related menstrual abnormalities in women. International Journal of Obesity, 1979, 3, 57–73.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, G. C. Interactions between feeding behavior and hormones during growth. Annals of the New York Academy of Science, 1969, 157, 1049–1061.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, G. C., and Mitra, J. Body weight and food intake as initiation factors for puberty in the rat. Journal of Physiology (London), 1963, 166, 408–418.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keys, A., Brozek, J., Henschel, A., and Mickelsen, O. The biology of human starvation. Vol. 1. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1950.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleiber, M. The fire of life. New York: Wiley, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knuth, U. A., Hill, M. G. R., and Jacobs, H. S. Amenorrhea and loss of weight. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 1977, 84, 801–807.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lunn, P. G., Austin, S., Prentice, A. M., and Whitehead, R. G. Influence of maternal diet on plasma-prolactin levels during lactation. Lancet, 1980, 1, 623–625.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malina, R. M., Spirduso, W. W., Tate, C., and Baylor, A. M. Age at menarche and selected menstrual characteristics in athletes at different competitive levels and in different sports. Medicine and Science in Sports, 1978, 10, 218–222.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McArthur, J. W., O’Loughlin, K. M., Beitins, I. Z., Johnson, L., Hourihan, J., and Alonso, C. Endocrine studies during the refeeding of young women with nutritional amenorrhea and infertility. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 1976, 51, 607–615.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Montagu, A. The reproductive development of the female: A study in the comparative physiology of the adolescent organism. Littleton, MA.: PSG, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nimrod, A., and Ryan, K. J. Aromatization of androgens by human abdominal and breast fat tissue. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 1975, 40, 367–372.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nisker, J. A., Hammond, G. L., and Siiteri, P. K. More on fatness and reproduction. New England Journal of Medicine, 1980, 303, 1124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nodate, Y. Estrogen metabolism. Sanfujinka No tissai (Tokyo), 1969, 18, 219–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parizkovâ, J. Physical activity and body composition. In J. Brozek (Ed.), Human body composition: Approaches and applications. Vol. 7. Oxford, England: Pergamon Press, 1965, 161–176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perel, E., and Killinger, D. W. The interconversion and aromatization of androgens by human adipose tissue. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry, 1979, 10, 623–626.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sargent, D. W. Weight-height relationship of young men and women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1963, 13, 318–325.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Scammon, R. E. The measurement of the body in childhood. In J. A. Harris, C. M. Jackson, D. G. Paterson, R. E. Scammon (Eds.), The measurement of man. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1930, 174–215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sinning, W. E. Anthropometric estimation of body density, fat, and lean body weight. Medicine and Science in Sports, 1978, 10, 243–249.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tanner, J. W. Growth at adolescence. 2nd ed. Oxford, England: Blackwell Press, 1962. Tisserand-Perrier, M. Etude comparative de certains processus de croissance chez les jumeaux. Journal de Génétique Humaine, 1953, 2, 87–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vigersky, R. A., Andersen, A. E., Thompson, R. H., and Loriaux, D. L. Hypothalamic dysfunction in secondary amenorrhea associated with simple weight loss. New England Journal of Medicine, 1977, 297, 1141–1145.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wakeling, A., and Russell, G. F. M. Disturbances in the regulation of body temperature in anorexia nervosa. Psychological Medicine, 1970, 1, 30–39.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Warren, M. P. The effects of exercise on pubertal progression and reproductive function in girls. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 1980, 51, 1150–1157.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wyshak, G., and Frisch, R. E. Evidence for a secular trend in age of menarche. New England Journal of Medicine, 1982, 306, 1033–1035.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zacharias, L., Rand, W. M., and Wurtman, R. J. A prospective study of sexual development and growth in American girls: the statistics of menarche. Obstetrics and Gynecology Survey, 1976, 31, 325–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Center for Population Studies and Department of Population Studies, Harvard University, School of Public Health, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138, USA

    Rose E. Frisch

Authors
  1. Rose E. Frisch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for the Study of Exceptional Children, Educational Testing Service, 08541, Princeton, New Jersey, USA

    Jeanne Brooks-Gunn

  2. Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 10019, New York, New York, USA

    Jeanne Brooks-Gunn

  3. Department of Individual and Family Studies, College of Human Development, The Pennsylvania State University, 16802, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA

    Anne C. Petersen

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1983 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Frisch, R.E. (1983). Fatness, Puberty, and Fertility The Effects of Nutrition and Physical Training on Menarche and Ovulation. In: Brooks-Gunn, J., Petersen, A.C. (eds) Girls at Puberty. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0354-9_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0354-9_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-0356-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-0354-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation