Pubertal timing is an independent predictor of central adiposity in young adult males: the Gothenburg osteoporosis and obesity determinants study
Journal article, 2006

The role of puberty and normal variations in pubertal timing for the development of obesity in men is unclear. The aim of the current study was to investigate the impact of pubertal timing and prepubertal BMI (kg/m(2)) for young adult BMI and fat mass distribution. Detailed growth charts from birth to age 18-20 years were retrieved for the men participating in the population-based Gothenburg Osteoporosis and Obesity Determinants study. Age at peak height velocity (PHV) and BMI at age 10 years were estimated for 579 subjects, and PHV was used as an assessment of pubertal timing. The fat mass characterization and distribution were analyzed using dual X-ray absorptiometry and peripheral as well as abdominal computed tomography at age 18.9 +/- 0.5 years. We demonstrate that age at PHV is an independent negative predictor of young adult BMI and whole-body fat mass. Interestingly, age at PHV is an independent negative predictor of central, but not peripheral, fat mass. In contrast, BMI at 10 years of age predicts both central and peripheral subcutaneous fat mass. In conclusion, we demonstrate that early pubertal onset specifically predicts a central fat mass distribution, while a predominantly subcutaneous obese phenotype is strongly predicted by a high prepubertal BMI.

Humans

Age Factors

Predictive Value of Tests

Osteoporosis/*epidemiology

Body Weight

Adolescent

Child

Photon

Adult

Absorptiometry

Male

Adipose Tissue/anatomy & histology

Puberty/*physiology

Body Height

Smoking

Body Mass Index

Obesity/*epidemiology

Author

Jennie M Kindblom

University of Gothenburg

Mattias Lorentzon

University of Gothenburg

Ensio Norjavaara

University of Gothenburg

Lars Lönn

University of Gothenburg

John Brandberg

University of Gothenburg

Jan-Erik Angelhed

University of Gothenburg

Åsa Hellqvist

University of Gothenburg

Staffan Nilsson

University of Gothenburg

Chalmers, Mathematical Sciences, Mathematical Statistics

Claes Ohlsson

University of Gothenburg

Diabetes

0012-1797 (ISSN)

Vol. 55 11 3047-52

Subject Categories

Clinical Medicine

DOI

10.2337/db06-0192

More information

Created

10/7/2017