Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 28, 2025

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

27.2K

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

Ying Zhang1, Xin Yuan1, XiaoHong Yang1

  • 1Department of Endocrinology, Genetics and Metabolism, Fuzhou Children's Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.

International Journal of Public Health
|May 31, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Children with obesity are taller in early childhood and experience earlier puberty and growth cessation. However, obesity

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Childhood Obesity Research
  • Growth and Development Studies

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing global health concern.
  • Understanding its impact on growth and pubertal development is crucial.
  • Previous studies suggest a link between obesity and altered growth trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the associations between obesity and physical growth in children.
  • To examine the relationship between obesity and the timing of puberty.
  • To identify potential sex differences in these associations.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 26,879 children aged 3-18 years in Fuzhou, China.
  • Assessment of height, weight, and Tanner stages for pubertal development.
  • Comparison of growth parameters and pubertal onset between obese and non-obese children.

Main Results:

  • Obese children were significantly taller than non-obese peers after age 4.
  • Height differences diminished after 15.5 years for boys and 12.5 years for girls.
  • Obese children exhibited earlier pubertal onset (e.g., breast/testicular development) and earlier growth deceleration compared to non-obese children.
  • Sex dimorphism was observed in the effect of obesity on precocious puberty incidence.

Conclusions:

  • Obesity in children is associated with accelerated growth in early childhood.
  • Obesity leads to earlier pubertal onset and earlier cessation of growth.
  • The impact of obesity on pubertal timing shows variations between boys and girls.

Keywords:
childrengrowthmenarcheobesityprecocious puberty

More Related Videos

Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training06:51

Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training

Published on: July 27, 2022

2.0K
An Acupoint Catgut-embedding Therapy for Treating Obesity04:50

An Acupoint Catgut-embedding Therapy for Treating Obesity

Published on: April 4, 2025

521

Related Concept Videos

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)...
466
Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in...
552
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,...
20.6K
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development01:30

Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development

Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
58
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...
155
Population Growth00:57

Population Growth

Population size is dynamic, increasing with birth rates and immigration, and decreasing with death rates and emigration. In ideal conditions with unlimited resources, populations can increase exponentially, which plots as a J-shaped growth rate curve of population size against time. This type of curve is characteristic of newly-introduced invasive species, or populations that have suffered catastrophic declines and are rebounding.
25.4K