Early Sexual Maturation and Overweight in Adolescence
Author Information
Author(s): Bratberg Grete H, Nilsen Tom IL, Holmen Turid L, Vatten Lars J
Primary Institution: Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Hypothesis
Does early sexual maturation influence the risk of being overweight in late adolescence, and is this association modified by central adiposity in early adolescence?
Conclusion
In girls, the combination of central adiposity and early age at menarche appears to increase the risk of being overweight in late adolescence.
Supporting Evidence
- Early sexual maturation in girls was associated with overweight at follow-up.
- The association was significant only for girls with high waist circumference at baseline.
- Central adiposity was linked to higher BMI at follow-up in both genders.
Takeaway
Girls who start their periods early and have a lot of belly fat are more likely to be overweight when they are older.
Methodology
The study followed 1605 Norwegian adolescents from early to late adolescence, assessing sexual maturation and central adiposity through self-reports and clinical measurements.
Potential Biases
Self-reports of pubertal events may be overestimated, especially in early stages of puberty and in obese children.
Limitations
The study relied on self-reported data for pubertal status, which may introduce bias.
Participant Demographics
Norwegian adolescents, with a mean age of 14.2 years at baseline.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.03
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.5–4.9
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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