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Sex-specific fat distribution is not linear across pubertal groups in a multiethnic study
Qing He1, Mary Horlick, John Thornton
1Body Composition Unit-Obesity Research Center, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, Plant Basement New York, New York 10025, USA.
Obesity Research
|April 20, 2004
Summary
Puberty significantly alters fat distribution, with boys developing more "android" fat and girls showing less consistent changes. These pubertal fat distribution shifts vary by race, particularly in Asian populations.
Area of Science:
- Human Physiology
- Endocrinology
- Anthropology
Background:
- Sexual dimorphism in fat distribution emerges during puberty.
- Understanding race-specific differences in pubertal fat distribution is crucial for health assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sexual dimorphism and race differences in android/gynoid fat distribution.
- To analyze these differences across prepubertal, early pubertal, and late pubertal stages.
Main Methods:
- Measured fat distribution using skinfold thickness and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
- Included 920 healthy African-American, Asian, and white participants across three pubertal groups.
Main Results:
- Late pubertal boys had lower gynoid fat mass than prepubertal boys; girls showed no consistent increase.
- Asian participants exhibited unique patterns of sex-specific fat distribution progression.
- Sexual dimorphism in fat distribution was observed across most pubertal groups and races, with exceptions.
Conclusions:
- Pubertal progression leads to more "male" or "android" fat distribution in boys compared to prepubertal boys.
- Late pubertal girls did not consistently differ from prepubertal girls in fat distribution.
- Greater sexual dimorphism in late puberty may result from more significant changes in boys than girls.