Associations between Sleep Duration and Anthropometric Indices of Adiposity in Female University Students.

OBJECTIVES: To examine associations between sleep duration as well as time of going to sleep and anthropometric indices related to the amount and distribution of adiposity. MATERIAL: A total of 969 female university students, aged 19-24 years. METHODS: Participants self-reported their sleep duration. Body weight, height, and waist circumference were measured. BMI, WHR and WHtR were calculated. Statistical analyses of results involved logistic regression models. Socioeconomic status and level of stress were added as covariates. RESULTS: In 15% of the sample, sleep was too short (<6 h), and 10% slept too long (>8 h). Compared to women who followed the recommended sleep duration, among short sleepers, both underweight and overweight were more frequent, while long sleepers were more likely to be overweight. A higher prevalence of abdominal obesity and increased risk of metabolic syndrome were observed in both short and long sleepers than in recommended sleepers. Irregular sleep times were connected with higher OR, both for BMI < 18.5 and BMI > 25, for WC > 80, and WHtR below 0.4 and above 0.5. Irregular sleep times also led to an increased risk of metabolic diseases prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: Both too long and too short sleep increases the risk of overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity and, as a consequence, the risk of metabolic syndrome in young women.

Effect of air pollution on age at menarche in polish females, born 1993-1998.

The aim of the study was to analyse the association between the degree of air pollution (suspended particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, benzopyrene levels) in the location of residence during childhood and adolescence and the age at menarche. The research was carried out in the period from 2015 to 2018 in Poland. Anthropometric measurements were performed, and questionnaire data were collected from 1,257 women, aged 19-25 years. The average levels of subjects' exposure to analysed air pollutants, i.e., particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitric oxide and benzene during childhood-adolescence was assessed from the data acquired by the Polish Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection. Negative relationships between age at menarche and suspended particulate matter as well as nitrogen levels were found. A similar trend was observed in an analysis of the relationship between age at menarche and the complex air pollution index. The tendency for age at menarche to decrease together with worsening air quality was also visible after adjusted for socioeconomic status. Girls exposed to high suspended particulate matter levels were characterised by higher risk of early age at menarche. High levels of air pollution are related to younger age at menarche and the risk of the menstruation onset below 11 years.

Reducing socioeconomic differences in anthropometric characteristics among young Polish women.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the socioeconomic differences in adult anthropometric parameters of young women in Poland. The study was cross-sectional and conducted in the years 2015 to 2018 among 1257 women aged 19-24 years. The heights, weights, wrist widths and waist, hip and chest circumferences of the subjects were measured. Body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-to-chest ratio (WCR) and chest-to-height ratio (CHtR) were calculated. A survey was conducted to collect data on the women's socioeconomic characteristics. The application of the Generalized Linear Model (GLM) including all socioeconomic indicators (urbanization level of place of residence in childhood, parental education, number of siblings, material conditions) revealed no significant association of these with any of the analysed anthropometric traits. The results of the logistic regression showed no significant differences in the risk of underweight, too low abdominal adiposity or too high abdominal adiposity. However, the risk of overweight and obesity was significantly affected by the degree of urbanization of the women's place of residence in childhood and by their number of siblings. The results show that the socioeconomic factors that once had a significant influence on anthropometric traits currently do not play such an important role. This change can be explained by the equalization of living conditions and lifestyles of individual social groups in Poland.

Associations between childhood and adolescence exposure to air pollution and adult height in polish women.

Exposure to airborne substances harmful to health during pre- and postnatal stage may significantly affect the correct development of organs and systems. Many studies analyze the relationship between air quality and health, but data on the impact of air pollution on human biological development are scanty. The aim of the study was to assess the relationships between adult body height and air quality in the place of residence during childhood and adolescence. The parameters measured included absolute stature (cm) and relative stature defined as a percentage of mean stature of both parents. The analysis covered data collected from 1257 women. Subject's height was measured. Data on parental height were obtained using a questionnaire. The level of each analysed environmental pollution in the place of residence during childhood and adolescence: particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitric dioxide (NO2) and benzene (C6H6) in the place of residence during childhood and adolescence was determined on the basis of the data made available by the Polish Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection. Results of our study show that mean stature decreases with growing air pollution level. Significant differences were observed both in absolute stature and relative stature (expressed as percentage of mean stature of both parents) depending on PM10 and PM2.5 levels in place of residence during childhood and adolescence as well as on the total index of air quality. The differences remain statistically significant also after adjustment for the degree of urbanisation of the place of residence and factors related to socio-economic status. Our findings suggest that air pollution level in the place of residence during childhood and adolescence has significant impact on the children growth, potentially leading to worse health status later in life.

Does an early rural life influence selected health-related parameters of female university students?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to define whether in a group of young women the place of residence in their childhood and adolescence, as well as moving from a rural to an urban area, have affected their biological condition. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data were obtained from 1,305 unmarried and childless women aged 18-25. The respondents were university students. Each person's height, weight and waist circumference were measured, and the BMI, WHR, and WHtR indices were calculated. A survey was used to collect data on the females' socio-economic status, their health condition and course of menstruation cycle. RESULTS: In the whole sample, apart from WHR, there was no significant difference in anthropometric characteristics depending on the urbanization degree of the place of residence before commencing studies. In comparing the two groups of women, changing place of residence from a village to a city and from a city to another city, more differences were visible. Women of rural origin presented significantly higher values of BMI, waist circumference and WHtR than those from the city. They were also more frequently characterized by overweight and abdominal obesity. The women from other cities were characterized by underweight and too low amount of abdominal adipose tissue. Health problems were found in both groups. Students of rural origin more rarely declared changes in body weight and health condition after beginning studies. Students of urban origin were more often affected by sleeping problems and spine pains. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study do not indicate that a change of place of residence has a stronger effect on the biological condition of rural women than their urban peers.

Association of Estrogen-Related Traits with Allergic Rhinitis.

Estrogen's role in allergic diseases has recently been of considerable interest. The present article seeks to determine the relationship between estrogen-dependent traits and allergic rhinitis. The following traits were considered: digit ratio, age at menarche, regularity of menstrual cycles, and the waist to hip ratio. The study consisted of surveys and measurement data collected from 768 female university undergraduates. One hundred and sixty eight undergraduates (21.9%) had been diagnosed with allergic rhinitis. The results of logistic regression show that in women with a high digit ratio, indicating exposure to a higher estrogen level in the prenatal period, the risk of allergic rhinitis was almost twice as high as that in those with an average value of the ratio. The difference in the digit ratio was greater for the right than left hand. A significantly higher risk of allergic rhinitis was also observed in women who experienced first menstruation at a younger age. No differences in risk of allergic rhinitis were noted due to general obesity, abdominal obesity, or irregularity of menstrual cycles. We conclude that a higher digit ratio is suggestive of a propensity to allergies in adulthood plausibly having to do with greater exposure to estrogen at early stages of ontogenetic development.

Determinants of BMI category changes during middle childhood and adolescence in girls.

The aim of the study was to analyse the changes in BMI category between 7 and 16-18 years of age on the basis of continuous studies and evaluate which factors are related to the increase and decrease in BMI category. Data were collected from 1008 secondary school students aged 16-18 y. Body height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated. Information on height and body mass in earlier periods of life was retrieved from medical records. Age at menarche and socio-economic status was established on the basis of a questionnaire. Most girls who were underweight at 7 y. as well as those who were overweight or obese at 7 y. at the age of 16-18 y. reach correct body weight. The probability of the BMI category changing to higher one at 16-18 y. was related to short stature at 7, 9 and 14 y., low socio-economic status, living in the village and primary level of mother education. A drop in the BMI category was linked to the incidence of overweight and obesity at the age of 9 and 14 y. and tall stature at the age of 7 and 9 years. High socio-economic status was connected with a change in the category from "correct weight" at the age of 7 y. to "underweight" at 16-18 y., whereas the socio-economic status did not have a significant effect on the change of the category "overweight & obesity" at 7 y. to "correct weight" at 16-18 y.

[Sexual dimorphism and asymmetry of digit ratio (2D:4D) ­ pilot study].

Introduction: Numerous studies have demonstrated sexual dimorphism in 2D:4D digit ratio. Shall be regarded that the value of the 2D:4D ratio is determined in fetal life by the action of hormones. The aim of the study was to evaluate asymmetry and sexual dimorphism in 2D:4D digit ratio. Material and methods: The study was conducted on a group of 115 women and 46 men, aged 19­25 years. Individuals, which were included in the study, are students of two universities in Cracow ­ Academy of Physical Education and the Jagiellonian University. The measurement of the length the fingers II and IV both hands was made in each person and the value of digit ratio was calculated for all obtained data. Results: The women had the higher value of the index 2D:4D in both hands, compared with men covered by the survey. In males it was demonstrated higher average value of the length of the finger IV than the finger II.

Season of birth influences the timing of first menstruation.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the month of birth influences the maturation rate of Polish females from two birth cohorts, namely 1982-1984 and 1992-1994. It was also verified whether socioeconomic status (SES) is capable of altering the above relationship. METHODS: The research material consisted of data collected in two cross-sectional surveys. The first cohort involved 1,008 female secondary-school students, the second, 671 female university students. Information on subjects' date of birth, SES, and the age at menarche was obtained from a questionnaire. The subjects were divided into four groups, according to the month of birth: born in spring (III-V), born in summer (VI-VIII), born in autumn (IX-XI), and born in winter (XII-II). Next, the subjects were divided into two groups: born in summer months (VI-VIII) and born in the other months (IX-V). RESULTS: In the first cohort, subjects born in the summer reach menarche significantly earlier than subjects born in other seasons. The same tendency was noticeable in subjects born in the years 1992-1994; however, the differences were not statistically significant. In both cohorts, girls born in summer months had their first menstruation at a younger age than girls born in other months. The difference in age at menarche between season/months was also seen after dividing the data into uniform groups in terms of SES. CONCLUSION: The present data suggest that the season of birth influences sexual maturation rate in women.

[Early age at menarche - relationship with socioeconomic status and selected factors connected with health status]. / Wczesny wiek menarche - zwiazek ze statusem spoleczno-ekonomicznym oraz wybranymi czynnikami zwiazanymi ze stanem zdrowia.

INTRODUCTION: Current research from around the world indicates a trend toward younger ages at the first menstruation. At the same time more and more studies point out the negative consequences of early puberty. Early age at menarche is significantly correlated with the risk of metabolic syndrome, breast cancer and female reproductive system cancer, as well as illnesses such asthma and bulimia. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between age at menarche and socioeconomic status and selected factors connected with biological conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data were obtained from 671 female university students. Height, weight, waist and hip circumference were measured, and BMI, WHR, WHtR were calculated. A questionnaire form was used to assess the age at menarche, biological conditions and socioeconomic status of the surveyed students. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the number of the early, average and late maturing students between the socioeconomic groups. The early maturing girls were characterized by higher values of waist circumference, BMI, WHR and WHtR. The prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity was highest among the early maturing girls. The analysis did not show statistically significant relationships between age at menarche and selected factors connected with biological conditions. CONCLUSION: Early maturation increases the risk of obesity and central adiposity distribution.

[THE PREVALENCE AND CORRELATES OF MENSTRUAL PAIN IN HEALTHY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS]. / CZESTOSC WYSTEPOWANIA ORAZ CZYNNIKI SKORELOWANE Z BÓLEM MIESIACZKOWYM U ZDROWYCH STUDENTEK.

INTRODUCTION: Menstrual disorders generally affect the daily activities of females, and menstrual pain is a common gynaecological complaint in westernized societies. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of, and the factors related to, menstrual pain in young, healthy women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data from 600 university students were obtained during the cross sectional survey. Stu-dents were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire. Information on the women's socioeconomic status, age at menarche, and menstrual cycle characteristics: i.e. the length and regularity of cycles, the duration of menstrual flow, and the occurrence of menstrual pain, headache and back pain during the cycles were asked about. Each person's height, weight and waist circumference were measured, and the following indices: BMI, WHR, and WHtR were calculated. RESULTS: 29.8% of the surveyed students reported the occurrence of moderate pain during menstruation, and 21.7% reported the occurrence of severe menstrual pain. Significant differences were observed in the prevalence of menstrual pain with relation to age at menarche and the amount and distribution of adipose tissue. Menstrual pain was more prevalent among women who experienced menarche at a younger age. Among overweight and obese students, as well as among students with abdominal obesity, menstrual pain was more frequent than among those with correct weight and correct waist circumference. Moreover, psychological stress was associated with menstrual pain. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that a sig-nificant percentage of young women complain of menstrual pain. Menstrual pain is associated with early age at menarch, obesity and abdominal obesity.