J Obes Metab Syndr.  2017 Dec;26(4):243-250. 10.7570/jomes.2017.26.4.243.

Growth and Puberty in Obese Children and Implications of Body Composition

• Chung S

• KMID: 2404805
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7570/jomes.2017.26.4.243

Abstract

Childhood obesity is a major public health concern throughout the world. Nutrition, energy balance and hormones interplay in growth and pubertal development regulation. Frequently overweight and obese children are taller for their age and sex and tend to mature earlier than lean children. The increased leptin and sex hormone levels seen in obese children with excessive adiposity may be implicated in accelerated pubertal growth and accelerated epiphyseal growth plate maturation. Efforts to detect the impact of obesity in children are needed to prevent metabolic and cardiovascular disease in later life. This review aims to cover the process of growth in obese children and implications of body composition on growth and pubertal development and introduce the use of body composition charts in clinical practice.

Keyword

Growth; Puberty; Obesity; Body composition

MeSH Terms

Adiposity
Adolescent
Body Composition*
Cardiovascular Diseases
Child*
Growth Plate
Humans
Leptin
Obesity
Overweight
Pediatric Obesity
Puberty*
Public Health
Leptin