Body morphology and bone age in obese and non-obese girls aged 8 to 15 years old

a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: childhood obesity is one of the main public health problems worldwide, leading to health status repercussions and growth and maturation process implications in both children and adolescents. Objective: the aim of this study was to verify body morphology and bone age variations in girls with obesity and without obesity. Methodology: this comprises a cross-sectional study conducted with 140 girls aged 8 to 15 years old, 70 with obesity and 70 without obesity. Hip and waist circumferences, body mass, height and and Body Mass Index (BMI) were determined. For maturation status determinations, bone ages were determined by a left wrist and hand radiography employing the Fels method. Results: the findigs indicate significant correlations between nutritional and maturation statuses (r=0.80; p˂0.01). Girls with obesity presented higher weight and BMI values, larger waist and hip circumferences and more advanced bone age compared to girls without obesity (p˂0.01). The same significant differences ​​(p˂0.01) were noted in the contrasting maturational group analysis, where girls presenting advanced maturation always exhibited the highest parameter values. Conclusion: nutritional status is associated to maturation status, and girls with obesity exhibit more advanced bone age than girls without obesity.