Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

The relationship between adiposity and stature in prepubertal children with celiac disease

Benjamin Udoka Nwosu, Rachel I Snook, Louise Maranda

    Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism : JPEM
    |June 5, 2013
    PubMed

    Insights

    Children with celiac disease (CD) who are overweight or obese are taller than normal-weight children with CD and normal-weight controls. This suggests adiposity, not CD itself, influences height in these children.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Human Growth and Development

    Background:

    • The underlying reasons for short stature in pediatric celiac disease (CD) remain largely unknown.
    • While obesity is typically associated with increased height, its specific impact on stature within the context of CD is not well understood.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the relationship between body adiposity and stature in prepubertal children diagnosed with celiac disease.
    • To determine if adiposity plays a role in the growth patterns observed in children with CD.

    Main Methods:

    • A comparative study involving biopsy-proven celiac disease (CD) children (n=40) and non-CD controls (n=50), aged 3-12 years, not on a gluten-free diet.
    • Anthropometric measurements including Body Mass Index (BMI) and sex-adjusted midparental target height (MPTH) standard deviation score (SDS) were analyzed.

    Main Results:

    • Children with CD exhibited significantly lower BMI SDS compared to controls.
    • Despite differences in BMI, children with CD were not significantly shorter than controls overall.
    • Normal-weight CD children were shorter than overweight/obese controls and overweight/obese CD children, but similar in height to normal-weight controls.

    Conclusions:

    • Overweight/obese prepubertal children with CD demonstrated greater height compared to normal-weight CD peers and normal-weight controls.
    • The height of overweight/obese CD children was comparable to that of overweight/obese control subjects.
    • Adiposity appears to be a significant factor influencing height in prepubertal children with celiac disease.
    Abstract

    More Related Videos

    Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts07:56

    Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts

    Published on: January 29, 2018

    Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children10:57

    Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children

    Published on: August 22, 2012

    Related Concept Videos

    Nature and Nurture01:10

    Nature and Nurture

    Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...
    Signs of Puberty01:27

    Signs of Puberty

    Puberty is a critical phase, typically beginning between the ages of 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys, though timing can vary based on genetics, environmental factors, and overall health. This period is characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics and the attainment of reproductive potential. Endocrine changes underpin puberty, with hormonal surges of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) instigated by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)...
    Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution01:25

    Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution

    Obesity significantly alters the pharmacokinetic processes of drug absorption and distribution, presenting unique challenges in medical treatment. The increased fat tissue and decreased lean muscle in obese individuals can significantly affect how drugs are absorbed into the body and distributed across different tissues. This alteration can lead to variances in the effectiveness and safety of medications, necessitating adjustments in dosing or drug selection for obese patients.One notable...
    Polygenic Traits01:18

    Polygenic Traits

    When more than one gene is responsible for a given phenotype, the trait is considered polygenic. Human height is a polygenic trait. Studies have uncovered hundreds of loci that influence height, and there are believed to be many more. Due to the high number of genes involved, as well as environmental and nutritional factors, height varies significantly within a given population. The distribution of height forms a bell-shaped curve, with relatively few individuals in the population at the...
    Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age01:09

    Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age

    The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
    Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
    Anorexia Nervosa01:28

    Anorexia Nervosa

    Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
    Symptoms and Physical Effects
    Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...