Longitudinal Study on Puberty Onset and Adolescent Obesity - Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China, 2012-2022

The early onset of puberty increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Limited research has focused on the association between the onset of puberty, based on sudden increases in height, and obesity in late adolescence.

This report assessed the age at take-off and age at peak height velocity for children and adolescents in China from 2012 to 2020. The results indicated that age at take-off and age at peak height velocity were negatively associated with the risk of late adolescence obesity in boys, independent of childhood body mass index; however, no similar association was found in girls.

Puberty timing influences adiposity. Effective monitoring and management of pubertal development are necessary, and attention should be paid to sex differences.