THE CORRELATION BETWEEN BODY MASS INDEKS AND MENSTRUAL CYCLE AMONG ADOLESCENT GIRLS

Abstract

Background: Menstruation refers to the regular and cyclical bleeding originating from the uterus, usually accompanied by the shedding of the endometrial lining inside the womb. When an adolescent experiences an abnormal menstrual cycle (< 21 days), it can cause more frequent bleeding from the body. As a result, increased blood loss may trigger iron deficiency anemia.  Object: To analyze whether there is a relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the menstrual cycle among adolescent girls. Method This study applied an observational analytic design using a correlational study method with a cross-sectional approach. The sample consisted of 95 female students from the Midwifery Department of Health Polytechnic of Surabaya who met the predetermined criteria and were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test with a significance level of 0.05. Results: Based on the chi-square statistical test, the obtained p-value was 0.000 with α = <0.05. This indicates that there is a significant relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the menstrual cycle among adolescent girls in the Midwifery Department of Health Polytechnic of Surabaya. Conclusion: This finding indicates that abnormalities in body mass index, either underweight or overweight, may affect the regularity of the menstrual cycle. Therefore, maintaining an ideal body mass index through a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle is important to support hormonal balance and normal menstrual function in adolescent females.