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Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
Gender differences in bone mineral density in obese children during pubertal development
D Fintini1, C Brufani, A Grossi
1Cardiorespiratory and Sport Medicine Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, P.za San Onofrio, 4, 00165 Rome, Italy. dfintini@hotmail.com
Journal of Endocrinological Investigation
|September 22, 2010
Summary
Obesity may negatively impact bone density in pubertal boys due to body composition, but not in girls. Further research on adolescent bone health and obesity is warranted.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Bone Metabolism
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Obesity is a growing concern in adolescents.
- Understanding its impact on bone development is crucial for long-term skeletal health.
- Peak bone mass is established during puberty.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and body composition on peak bone mass in obese versus normal-weight pubertal subjects.
- To differentiate effects based on sex and Tanner stage.
Main Methods:
- Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to assess bone mineral density (BMD), lean mass (LM), and lean/fat ratio in 151 pubertal subjects (81 obese).
- Subjects were categorized by BMI (obese: BMI SDS > 2.0; normal: BMI SDS < 2.0) and Tanner stage (T3-T5).
Main Results:
- Obese males showed higher bone density at Tanner stages 3-4 but lower at stage 5 compared to normal-weight males.
- Obese females exhibited increased BMD, particularly at Tanner stage 5.
- Bone mineral density was correlated with lean mass, lean/fat ratio, and testosterone in normal-weight males, and lean mass in normal-weight females.
Conclusions:
- Obesity may negatively influence bone density in adolescent boys, potentially due to unfavorable body composition during sexual maturation.
- This negative impact on bone development was not observed in adolescent girls.
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