AUTHOR=Zhang Ying , Yuan Xin , Yang XiaoHong , Lin XiangQuan , Cai ChunYan , Chen ShiJun , Ai ZhuanZhuan , ShangGuan HuaKun , Wu WenYong , Chen RuiMin 

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

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=68

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2023.1605433

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2023.1605433

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objectives:</bold> To investigate the associations of obesity with growth and puberty in children.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> From November 2017 to December 2019, height, weight, and Tanner stages of 26,879 children aged 3–18 years in Fuzhou, China were assessed.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> The obese group was significantly taller than the non-obese group after age 4 years for both genders, yet there was no significant difference in height between obese and non-obese group after 15.5 years old for boys and 12.5 years old for girls. The inflection points of significant growth deceleration in obese and non-obese groups were 14.4 and 14.6 years old for boys, and 11.8 and 12.8 years old for girls, respectively. The proportions of testicular development in boys with obesity and non-obesity were 7.96% and 5.08% at 8.5–8.9 years old, respectively, while the proportions of breast development in girls were 17.19% and 3.22% at age 7.5–7.9 years old, respectively.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Children with obesity were taller in early childhood, earlier onset of puberty and earlier cessation of growth than children with non-obesity of the same age. However, there was sex dimorphism on the effect of obesity on the incidence of precocious puberty.</p>