International Journal of Public Health (May 2023)

Associations of Obesity With Growth and Puberty in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study in Fuzhou, China

  • Ying Zhang,
  • Xin Yuan,
  • XiaoHong Yang,
  • XiangQuan Lin,
  • ChunYan Cai,
  • ShiJun Chen,
  • ZhuanZhuan Ai,
  • HuaKun ShangGuan,
  • WenYong Wu,
  • RuiMin Chen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2023.1605433
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 68

Abstract

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Objectives: To investigate the associations of obesity with growth and puberty in children.Methods: From November 2017 to December 2019, height, weight, and Tanner stages of 26,879 children aged 3–18 years in Fuzhou, China were assessed.Results: The obese group was significantly taller than the non-obese group after age 4 years for both genders, yet there was no significant difference in height between obese and non-obese group after 15.5 years old for boys and 12.5 years old for girls. The inflection points of significant growth deceleration in obese and non-obese groups were 14.4 and 14.6 years old for boys, and 11.8 and 12.8 years old for girls, respectively. The proportions of testicular development in boys with obesity and non-obesity were 7.96% and 5.08% at 8.5–8.9 years old, respectively, while the proportions of breast development in girls were 17.19% and 3.22% at age 7.5–7.9 years old, respectively.Conclusion: Children with obesity were taller in early childhood, earlier onset of puberty and earlier cessation of growth than children with non-obesity of the same age. However, there was sex dimorphism on the effect of obesity on the incidence of precocious puberty.

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