Obesity may delay puberty in boys

Washington, Feb 2 (ANI): A new U.S. study has shown that higher body mass index during childhood is associated with later onset of puberty.

"We found that increased body fatness is associated with a later onset of puberty in boys, the opposite of what we have seen in girls, as heavier girls tend to develop earlier, rather than later. Our study shows that the relationship between body fat and timing of puberty is not the same in boys as it is in girls," said U-M paediatric endocrinologist Joyce M. Lee, the study's lead author."Although there have been a number of longitudinal studies looking at the link between body fat and puberty in girls, few studies have been performed in boys. The results of our study suggest that excess weight may lead to a later onset of puberty in boys. Our findings have important implications for understanding sex differences in physiological mechanisms of puberty," Lee added.To study the association between weight and the onset of puberty, Lee and her colleagues looked at 401 boys from diverse socio-economic backgrounds in 10 regions of the U.S. using data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development.

The study has been published in the February issue of the Archives of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. (ANI)