Accelerated skeletal maturation is associated with overweight and obesity as early as preschool age: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Body mass index and skeletal age are important indicators of individual growth and maturation. The recognition of their association could contribute to the prevention of childhood obesity and accelerated skeletal maturation. This study aimed to examine the effects of overweight and obesity on accelerated skeletal maturation in preschool children. Methods: Participants included 1330 children aged 3.1-6.6 years. The main outcomes were skeletal age assessed by left hand-wrist radiograph, and body mass index classified as thinness, normal weight, overweight and obesity. Results: The percentage of accelerated skeletal maturation increased with body mass index ( x 2 = 89.442, df = 3, P <0.01) and age group ( x 2 = 43.417, df = 5, P <0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed a higher risk of accelerated skeletal maturation in children with overweight and obesity than children with normal weight after adjusting for gender and age (Overweight, OR = 3.27, 95% CI : 2.20-4.87; Obese, OR = 4.73, 95% CI : 2.99-7.48). Conclusions: Accelerated skeletal maturation was associated with overweight and obesity in preschool children, and its prevalence increased with age. These findings suggest that parents and child-health managers should be aware of an existing risk of accelerated skeletal maturation in preschool children with overweight and obesity.