Growth, Body Composition, and the Onset of Puberty: Longitudinal Observations in Afro-Caribbean Children

Context: Childhood growth and body composition may influence the onset of puberty. Objective: We examined the effects of birth size, growth rates throughout childhood, and body composition on the onset of puberty in Afro-Caribbean children. Design and Setting: This was a longitudinal birth cohort st...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2010-07, Vol.95 (7), p.3194-3200
Main Authors: Boyne, Michael S., Thame, Minerva, Osmond, Clive, Fraser, Raphael A., Gabay, Leslie, Reid, Marvin, Forrester, Terrence E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Anthropometry
Biological and medical sciences
Birth Weight - physiology
Body Composition - physiology
Body Mass Index
Child
Child Development - physiology
Child, Preschool
Electric Impedance
Endocrinopathies
Feeding. Feeding behavior
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Jamaica
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Medical sciences
Puberty - physiology
Regression Analysis
Sex Factors
Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
Vertebrates: endocrinology
Weight Gain - physiology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Context: Childhood growth and body composition may influence the onset of puberty. Objective: We examined the effects of birth size, growth rates throughout childhood, and body composition on the onset of puberty in Afro-Caribbean children. Design and Setting: This was a longitudinal birth cohort study (the Vulnerable Windows Cohort Study) in Jamaica. Subjects and Measurements: The anthropometry (weight, height, skinfold measurements, and waist circumference) of 259 children was measured at birth, at 6 wk, every 3 months to 2 yr, and then every 6 months. Tanner staging for puberty and orchidometry were performed every 6 months starting at approximately age 8 yr. Bioelectrical impedance was done at age 11 yr. Results: In the girls, thelarche, pubarche, and menarche occurred at median ages of 8.8, 9.9, and 12.0 yr, respectively. Pubarche in boys occurred at a median age of 11.3 yr when the median testicular volume was 2.8 ml. Faster weight gain during infancy (age 0–6 months) and childhood, but not birth size, was associated with more advanced puberty (P values
ISSN:0021-972X
1945-7197
DOI:10.1210/jc.2010-0080