Studies have shown that excess weight and obesity affect the start of puberty differently for boys and girls. In girls, it can cause early puberty and in boys it can delay puberty.
Obese children are usually taller for their age but also fatter and mature faster, but they do not tend to attain taller height as adults since excess adiposity during early childhood has an influence on the process of growth and puberty.
Obesity associated with smaller testicular volume and delayed puberty. Age of pubertal onset by testicular volume declined and was associated with increase in BMI. Earlier breast development not explained by BMI. For both sexes, high BMI at age 7 associated with early puberty.
Body shape – Another sign of puberty in girls is changing body shape, particularly extra fat in the belly area (some call it “baby fat”). Weight gain can cause anxiety for girls. This is part of normal development, and her body will redistribute the fat from the stomach and waist to the breast and hips.
Although adequate nutrition is essential for normal growth of the child, excessive fat tissue accumulation may cause abnormalities in the trajectory of linear growth. Obesity in children and adolescents has been long associated with tall stature.
Weight and Changes in Puberty
Studies have shown that excess weight and obesity affect the start of puberty differently for boys and girls. In girls, it can cause early puberty and in boys it can delay puberty.
Noticeable weight gain may occur prior to a growth spurt as excess fat helps promote growth. As a child goes through puberty, their stores of body fat may change.
Your child will experience many changes in their body during this time. For girls, puberty usually occurs between ages 10 to 14, and for boys, between ages 12 to 16.
Puberty – Increased hormones in a child's body during puberty (between the ages of 10 and 14 for girls and between the ages of 12 and 16 for boys) leads to growth and possible expansion of “baby fat” areas. This typically takes place in girls' belly, breast area and hips. Boys' shoulders will get broader.
Puberty in women normally occurs between 11 and 14 years of age. If a child reaches a particular weight (around 45 kg or 100 lb), the onset of puberty is triggered. The heavier the child, the earlier puberty occurs, possibly affecting risk of later disease.
High protein intake elevates IGF-1 levels and promotes growth, which could accelerate the onset of puberty. Poor diet. Children with lower-nutrient diets tend to enter puberty earlier. A diet rich in processed foods and meats, dairy, and fast food is disruptive to normal physical development.
Another common cause of delayed puberty in girls is lack of body fat. Being too thin can disrupt the normal process of puberty. This can occur in girls who: Are very active in sports, such as swimmers, runners, or dancers.
As you go through puberty, you'll get taller, your hips will get wider, and your waist will get smaller. Your body also begins to build up fat in your belly, bottom, and legs. This is normal and gives your body the curvier shape of a woman.
Even though a 13 year old who is 70 kg is considered to be overweight as they suggest you should be weighing more like 50 to 60 plus kg, you are a growing teenager (providing that you are still growing, I'm only saying this because when I was your age I stopped growing unfortunately for me).
For example, a 7-year-old boy who is 3 feet 11 inches (119 cm) tall would have to weigh at least 56.9 pounds (25.8 kg) ( BMI = 17.9) to be considered overweight, and a 13-year-old girl who is 5 feet, 3 inches (160 cm) tall would be considered obese if she weighed 161 pounds (73 kg) ( BMI = 28.5).
The most dangerous age is 14. If you know any teenagers this might not come as a surprise, but research has confirmed that risk-taking peaks during this exact moment in mid-adolescence.
Stage 5 is the final phase. Development typically ends in this stage. Girls reach physical adulthood. Pubic hair may extend out to their thighs, and some girls may have a line of hair up to their belly button.
Overweight kids and teens can develop weight-related health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure and are more likely to be overweight as adults. And adults who are overweight have a greater chance of serious health problems, such as heart disease.
You can't gain height by losing weight. But you can lose weight by living healthfully. This, in turn, might reduce your risk of losing height in later life due to obesity-linked conditions like osteoporosis.
More significant weight gain is normal during the preadolescent ages of roughly 9 to 12 and adolescence – as a child matures into a young adult. It's not unusual for the body to store fat during this time as it prepares for the rapid growth and changes associated with puberty.
Previous studies found that girls with obesity start puberty and experience their first menstrual period earlier than girls with normal weight.
It is usually easier to lose weight as a teenager than as an adult due in part to metabolic differences. It is beneficial to achieve and maintain a healthy weight as a teen and carry it forward into adulthood.