Puberty Among Obese Girls

Puberty, as a general term, refers to biological, physical and sexual maturation (i.e. from a child to an adult individual capable of reproduction). It is associated with marked physiological and psychological changes, where several factors affect both timing and tempo of pubertal development, such as adequate nutrition. Since the 19th century, the onset of puberty has significantly declined in different populations. Such trends are attributed to improvement in both public health and socio-economic status. However, such secular trends of earlier pubertal development coincide with the worldwide dramatic rapid increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity. The timing of pubertal onset is mainly controlled by genetic factors, although nutritional and environmental factors are also involved. Moreover, childhood obesity was found to affect growth patterns and promote pubertal development as well, although the mechanisms of earlier sexual development in overweight and obese children remain unclear. The risk of early puberty; which is significantly higher in girls than boys, indicates the role of obesity to early pubertal development.