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Longitudinal Association Between Body Mass Index z-Score and Puberty: Structural Equation Modeling Analyses.

Luísa Harumi Matsuo1, Gilciane Ceolin2, Francisco de Assis Guedes de Vasconcelos1

  • 1Postgraduate Program in Nutrition, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.

American Journal of Human Biology : the Official Journal of the Human Biology Council
|March 13, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Higher childhood body mass index (BMI) in girls was linked to earlier puberty (menarche). In boys, diet and socioeconomic status influenced pubertal timing. Further research is needed.

Keywords:
adolescentbody mass indexmenarcheoverweightpubertyschoolchildrensexual maturation

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Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Public Health
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Changes in puberty timing may indicate population health shifts.
  • Rising overweight and obesity prevalence is a public health concern.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To longitudinally analyze the association between childhood body mass index (BMI) and pubertal development in Brazilian students.
  • To investigate the impact of BMI on sexual maturation (SM) five years later.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 494 students (ages 7-10 in 2007).
  • BMI z-scores calculated; pubertal development self-assessed using Tanner stages.
  • Structural equation modeling used, adjusting for socioeconomic status (SES), birth weight, breastfeeding, physical activity, and dietary patterns (DP).

Main Results:

  • No significant association between BMI and SM in either sex.
  • In girls, higher childhood BMI z-score was directly associated with earlier age at menarche.
  • Ultra-processed food consumption indirectly affected age at menarche via BMI in girls.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood BMI is associated with earlier menarche in girls.
  • Dietary patterns and SES influence pubertal timing in boys.
  • Sex-specific research is crucial to understand early puberty determinants in diverse populations.