These data support the hypothesis that faster growth throughout childhood, especially with fat mass accretion, is associated with more advanced puberty apart from menarche. With the onset of puberty, lean mass accretion significantly increases.

An earlier onset of puberty is associated with increased cardiometabolic risk. We investigated whether this relation was independent of faster childhood growth or current size in an Afro-Caribbean birth cohort (n=259). Anthropometry was measured at birth and then 6-monthly. Tanner staging started at age 8 years. Cardiometabolic risk factors were measured at mean age 11.5 years. In boys, pubarchal stage and testicular size were associated with lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, higher systolic blood pressure, and higher homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance score, but not after adjusting for current body mass index (BMI) or rate of growth (up to age 8 years). In girls, earlier menarche and greater breast development were associated with higher fasting glucose even after adjusting for current BMI or prior growth. Pubarchal stage was associated with systolic blood pressure, even after adjusting for current BMI and prior growth. We concluded that earlier puberty is independently associated with cardiometabolic risk in girls but not in boys.

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Large families demonstrating multigenerational inheritance of diabetes and other characteristics consistent with early-onset type 2 diabetes are present in the Jamaican population.

Delayed puberty secondary to hypogonadism is commonly seen in sickle cell disease (SCD), affecting normal growth and development. The condition is rarely treated in SCD for fear of inducing priapism episodes. We present a case report of an Afro-Jamaican adolescent male at 16 years of age who presented with symptoms of delayed puberty as well as frequent stuttering priapism episodes. Endocrinological assessment revealed low serum total testosterone levels. Treatment was commenced monthly with testosterone enanthate which resulted in improved symptoms of delayed puberty, improvement in anthropometric parameters while apparently ameliorating priapism episodes.