ABSTRACT Objective: Evaluate the association between early menarche and anthropometric/body composition variables in young female university students. Methods: Cross-sectional study involving female university students at a public university in northeastern Brazil. Anthropometric and body composition data were collected, along with a self-report of age at menarche. The conceptual model considered demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle variables as well as the perception of weight in childhood and at menarche. Results: Among the 162 students analyzed, 62.3% were less than 20 years of age. The frequency of underweight and overweight was 8.6% and 22.3%, respectively. The frequency of above-average body fat and obesity was 32.1% and 14.8%, respectively. Early menarche was reported in 35.2%. The frequency of self-reported excess weight in childhood and at menarche was 31.3% and 25.9%, respectively. A statistically significant association was found between early menarche and height < 1st tertile (< 1.62 m). A tendency toward an association was found between early menarche and both weight, circumference in the risk range and the perception of excess weight in childhood and at menarche. Conclusion: Current excess weight was more associated with excess weight in childhood and at menarche than the occurrence of early menarche.