Associations of Obesity with Linear Growth and Puberty

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The prevalence of obesity in childhood has increased dramatically in recent decades with increased risk of developing cardiometabolic and other comorbidities. Childhood adiposity may also influence processes of growth and puberty. <b><i>Summary:</i></b> Growth patterns of obesity during childhood have been shown to be associated with increased linear growth in early childhood, leading to accelerated epiphyseal growth plate (EGP) maturation. Several hormones secreted by the adipose tissue may affect linear growth in the context of obesity, both via the growth hormone IGF-1 axis and via a direct effect on the EGP. The observation that children with obesity tend to mature earlier than lean children has led to the assumption that the degree of body fatness may trigger the neuroendocrine events that lead to pubertal onset. The most probable link between obesity and puberty is leptin and its interaction with the kisspeptin system, which is an important regulator of puberty. However, peripheral action of adipose tissue could also be involved in changes in the onset of puberty. In addition, nutritional factors, epigenetics, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals are potential mediators linking pubertal onset to obesity. In this review, we focused on interactions of obesity with linear growth and pubertal processes, based on basic research and clinical data in humans. <b><i>Key Message:</i></b> Children with obesity are subject to accelerated linear growth with risk of impaired adult height and early puberty, with its psychological consequences. The data highlight another important objective in combatting childhood obesity, for the prevention of abnormal growth and pubertal patterns.

Associations Between Body Composition, Leptin, and Vitamin D Varied by the Body Fat Percentage in Adolescents

“…In each group, BMI did not discern the differences in body composition based on sex (26), and high BMI did not distinguish excess fat mass from lean mass (27). In addition, most variables of body composition varied with the increase in %BF in both sexes, while height, FFM, and MM of boys remained unchanged, which corresponded to growth development during puberty in boys (28). Contrarily, decreases in FFM and MM were observed in girls with the highest excess %BF.…”

Sedentary lifestyle and precocious puberty in girls during the COVID-19 pandemic: an Italian experience

“…Since 1970, it has been hypothesized that critical body weight and a critical level of adiposity may trigger pubertal development ( 9 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ). Leptin, secreted by adipocytes, acts as a permissive stimulus on GnRH pulsatile secretion ( 33 , 34 ). On the contrary, adiponectin inhibits GnRH release resulting in a delayed onset of puberty.…”

Intersections between adolescent fertility and obesity—pathways and research gaps focusing on Latin American populations

“…It has been reported that obesity during childhood may alter secretion and sensitivity of hormones and accumulated adipose tissue may, therefore, contribute to the orchestrated controls for pubertal development. 65 Early age at menarche, in turn, increases the time in which a girl can become pregnant, which explains the association between early menarche and adolescent fertility reported by previous research. 66,67 Thus, the association between adolescent fertility and obesity may have this opposite pathway, with obesity contributing to adolescent fertility.…”