William Atkins
Wednesday, 03 February 2010 02:01
Science -
Biology
Page 1 of 3
According to a U.S. study, boys who are obese reach puberty later than normal-weight boys. However, the researchers behind the study are uncertain about the exact cause for the relationship because girls have the opposite result.
Four hundred one (401) boys, from ten different U.S. locations, participated in this study, one of the few studies to have analyzed weight differences in boys and puberty.
The researchers examined the boys’ body mass index (BMI) and the onset of puberty within the boys.
Each boy was participating in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development.
BMI measurements were taken at the ages of two, three, 4.5, seven, nine, 9.5, 10.5 and 11.5 years. Puberty was measured based on Tanner genitalia staging.
The researchers found that the boys that were obese (excessively overweight) are twice as likely, when compared to boys with normal weights, to not have started puberty by the age of 11.5 years.
Specifically, the study found that 14% of obese boys had not started puberty when the study ended, while only 7% of normal-weight boys had not started puberty at that same time.
Page two continues with quotes from the lead author of the recently-conducted study, Dr. Joyce Lee.
