A Clinical Study of the Relationship between Obesity and Pubertal Development in Girls.
10.5223/pghn.2012.15.3.175
- Author:
Hui Kwon KIM
1
;
Jong Yoon LEE
;
Eun Ju BAE
;
Won Il PARK
;
Hong Jin LEE
;
Phil Soo OH
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, Hallym University Medical Center, Chuncheon, Korea. ohphilia@unitel.co.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Earlier pubertal development;
Obesity;
Weight-for-height percentile;
Body mass index;
Herbal medicine
- MeSH:
Body Mass Index;
Child;
Herbal Medicine;
Humans;
Isothiocyanates;
Korea;
Nuclear Family;
Obesity;
Overweight
- From:Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
2012;15(3):175-182
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Recently, public interest in obesity and earlier pubertal development has been increasing. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between obesity and pubertal development in girls. METHODS: A total of 158 girls presenting with earlier pubertal development from July 2008 to June 2010 were included in the study. Their mean age was 8.27+/-1.3 years and the mean bone age advancement was 1.86+/-0.3 years. RESULTS: Based on weight-for-height percentiles, their obesity rate was 9.2% and overweight rate was 15.8%. However, for body mass index (BMI), the result was a bit different; with an obesity rate of 13.2% and overweight rate of 24.3%. About 40% of the girls had a family history of early maturation. Among them, 25.7% had a maternal history, 4.6% paternal and 7.2% both. However, 60% of them had no family history. We then classified these girls into families with one son and one daughter, and those with two daughters. In one-son/one-daughter families, 69.3% were the first children and 30.7% were second. In two-daughter families, 65.3% were the first and 34.7% were second. We found that 67.5% had a history of taking herbal medicine. CONCLUSION: The obesity and overweight rates in girls with earlier pubertal development were higher than those of normal girls, but with a small discrepancy between weight-for-height percentile and BMI-based results. Furthermore, taking herbal medicine seems to be a potential factor for earlier pubertal development in Korea.
