This site is intended for UK healthcare professionals
Medscape UK Univadis Logo
Medscape UK Univadis Logo
Clinical Summary

High BMI linked to earlier puberty hormone increases in boys

Takeaway

  • Overweight/obese status is associated with higher levels of pubertal hormones at age 6-10 years in boys.

Why this matters

  • The connection between BMI and puberty timing is poorly understood.

Key results

  • Overweight/obese status was associated with higher levels of 17-OH progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione, and free testosterone and lower levels of sex hormone-binding globulin during prepuberty and at ages 6 to <10 years (P<.01 for all).
  • Overweight/obese status was associated with lower levels of androstenedione and free testosterone during late puberty and postpuberty (P<.05 for all).

Study design

  • 1148 boys aged 6-14 years were stratified by BMI (overweight defined as 85th-95th percentile, obese defined as >95th percentile) and analysed for serum hormone levels.
  • Funding: National Key Research and Development Program of China, Beijing Municipal Administration of Hospital Clinical Medicine Development of Special Funding Support, Beijing Children’s Hospital Young Investigator Program.

Limitations

  • Cross-sectional study design.
  • Serum cortisol and aldosterone levels not analysed.

References


YOU MAY ALSO LIKE