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=Volume 68 - 2023

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=Objectives To investigate the associations of obesity with growth and puberty in children. 
Methods From November 2017 to December 2019, height, weight, and Tanner stages of 26879 children aged 3-18 years in Fuzhou, China were assessed.
Results The obesity group was significantly taller than the non-obesity group after age 4 years for both genders, yet there was no significant difference in height between obese and non-obese cohorts 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. 
Conclusions Obesity begets growth acceleration in early childhood, earlier onset of puberty and earlier cessation of growth. However, there was sex dimorphism on the effect of obesity on the incidence of precocious puberty.