Association of Body Mass Index on Primary Dysmenorrhea in Late Adolescents

Dr. Gouri Eknath Patil, Dr. Jikki Kalaiselvi, Dr. Vijayalakshmi Gnanasekaran

Abstract: Background: Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) represents a common gynecological issue which affects teenage girls through severe menstrual cramps that exist without pelvic disease. Studies investigating the BMI - PD relationship produced inconsistent findings because underweight and obese individuals commonly experience more severe pain during their periods. The research investigates how BMI affects PD severity among late adolescent girls while evaluating their ability to complete daily tasks. Methods: This study examined 100 late adolescent girls between 18 and 21 years old who belonged to four weight categorizations: the underweight group had BMI <18.5 kg/m? and the normal weight group had BMI 18.5?24.9 kg/m? while the overweight group consisted of individuals with BMI 25?29.9 kg/m? and the obese group included participants with BMI ?30 kg/m?. The evaluation of pain intensity relied on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and a structured questionnaire examined how dysmenorrhea affected daily activities. The study utilized SPSS software to conduct statistical analysis through the combination of descriptive statistics and chi - square tests and ANOVA to analyze the connection between BMI and pain severity together with functional limitation impact. Results: BMI proved highly associated with PD severity (p = 0.001) because underweight and obese participants presented the most severe levels of pain compared to individuals with normal - weight or overweight status. Underweight and obese schoolchildren exhibited higher rates of attendance problems (p = 0.01) along with decreased involvement in social events (p = 0.006) compared with other BMI groups. The study detected no meaningful differences between BMI groups for personal care and sleep patterns and execute regular physical movements. Conclusion: The research shows BMI directly affects PD severity because underweight and obese patients report more severe symptoms. The symptoms of menstrual pain and overall health quality of adolescent females can both improve when they maintain a normal BMI range. Healthcare providers need to use BMI measurements as an essential element for dysmenorrhea treatment while teaching patients about lifestyle changes that help reduce symptoms.

Keywords: Primary Dysmenorrhea, Body Mass Index (BMI), Adolescent Girls, Pain Severity, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), School Absenteeism, Social Participation, Obesity, Underweight, Menstrual Health