Abstract
BackgroundStudies addressing the influence of early sexual maturation on the excess of body weight and height of children and adolescents are scarce. The aim of the study was to analyze the association of sexual maturation with excess body weight and height in children and adolescents.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study performed in Florianópolis city, Brazil, in 2007, with 2339 school children, aged 8–14 years (1107 males). Selection was based on a probabilistic, cluster-stratified sampling technique. School children were classified according to the presence of excess body weight, using sex- and age-specific body mass index (BMI) cutoff points. Z-scores were calculated from height and BMI data. Sexual maturation was self-assessed according to Tanner stages of development. Subjects were ranked based on tertiles of sexual maturation (early, normal and late) for each stage of development. Poisson and linear regression models were used.ResultsCompared to the reference group (normal sexual maturation), early maturing females had higher prevalence of excess weight (adjusted prevalence ratio: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.24 to 2.33) and increased height-for-age (adjusted β: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.59), while late maturing females had lower prevalence of excess weight (adjusted prevalence ratio: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.37 to 0.87) and decreased height-for-age (adjusted β: −0.38; 95% CI: −0.56 to −0.20). In males, early and late sexual maturation were associated with increased (adjusted β: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.59) and decreased (adjusted β: −0.38; 95% CI: −0.56 to −0.20) height-for-age, respectively.ConclusionEarly sexual maturation is associated with excess body weight in females and with greater height-for-age in both sexes.
Highlights
Studies addressing the influence of early sexual maturation on the excess of body weight and height of children and adolescents are scarce
This resulted in a final sample of 2339 school children aged 8–14 years (1107 males)
There were no statistically significant differences in excess weight prevalence based on body mass index (BMI), BMI Z-score, height Z-score and the independent variables in the group excluded from the study
Summary
Studies addressing the influence of early sexual maturation on the excess of body weight and height of children and adolescents are scarce. Excess body weight in the first two decades of life has been the focus of several studies, due to its consequences for health across the life course This concern has been justified by the fact that excess weight prevalence is increasing in the United States [1], Europe [2] and Latin America [2,3]. Puberty is a critical period for developing excess body weight, since hormonal changes impact directly on weight gain and linear growth These changes comprise the chemical maturation of body tissues, including the amount and distribution of adipose tissue, and the increase in bone mass and in fat-free mass. In both sexes, there is a possibility of rapid increments in height and weight [6]
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