Body weight and puberty

Abstract

The weight is an important factor that influences the onset and progression of puberty. The overweight as well as the underweight could influence the development of puberty. Some previous studies suggest that there may be gender differences in development of puberty related to body weight. Most of the authors reported that the adiposity in early childhood appeared to be linked to advanced puberty in girls, but the results in the boys are controversial. In recent years, after the using of more accurate methods for determining the onset of puberty, such as measuring the testicular volume, it became clear that the boys with overweight and obesity start the onset of puberty earlier. Girls and boys with overweight grow faster and reach sexual maturity earlier than normal-weight children, while underweight lagging behind them at every stage of puberty. It is even necessary to reach a certain weight and the presence of an amount of fat to initiation of puberty. The amount of fat in the body affects the function of the reproductive axis both in the onset of puberty and during its development. Adipose tissue plays a dynamic role in energy homeostasis by acting as an endocrine organ, because in it run very important processes involved in the metabolism of the individuals. In it is secreted a large number adipocytokines, the most important of which is leptin, that can influence sexual development. On the other hand, the impact of energy status on the reproductive axis is realized through a number of neuropeptides and metabolic signals. These neuropeptides have either direct or indirect effects on feeding and metabolism as well as on the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Some hormones, such as insulin, also have an important effect on the reproductive axis.