Influences of Childhood Obesity on Pubertal Development

Abstract

The process of pubertal development is only partly understood but is thought to be influenced by many partially unknown factors. During the 20th century, there was a secular trend towards earlier pubertal development. Due to the rising epidemic of childhood obesity, the relationship between body composition in childhood and the tempo and timing of puberty needs to be better understood. Studies have shown that there is a clear relation between reaching a critical body weight and pubertal onset and course. Moreover, a rapid and early weight gain during infancy, and even during foetal life, is associated with an earlier onset of menarche, an earlier pubertal growth spurt, an earlier thelarche i..