The Impact of Adolescent Obesity on Adult Height

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity is a major health concern. Excess adiposity during childhood affects growth and puberty. Our aim was to assess whether genetic adult height is compromised in adolescents with obesity. Methods: In a retrospective study of 190 obese patients followed at our Pediatric Endocrinology Institute, adult height and delta height (the difference between adult height and mid-parental height) were compared to those of 150 healthy age-matched normal-weight controls. Review of medical files yielded the relevant clinical and anthropometric data of patients, controls, and parents. Results: Of the 190 obese adolescents, 150 were morbidly obese. The median adult height of morbidly obese males was 174.3 cm, of obese males 174 cm, and of normal-weight males 176 cm (p = 0.025). Delta height of morbidly obese males was –0.5 cm, of obese males –0.8 cm, and of normal-weight males, 3 cm (p < 0.0001). The median adult height of morbidly obese females was 161.3 cm, of obese females 162.8 cm, and of normal-weight females 162 cm (p = 0.37). Delta height of morbidly obese females was –1.85 cm, of obese females –0.95 cm, and of normal-weight females 0.7 cm (p = 0.019). Impairment of potential genetic height was not associated with obesity-related comorbidities. Conclusion: Adolescents with obesity showed impairment of potential genetic adult height as compared to that of normal-weight subjects.

The influence of treatment, age at onset, and metabolic control on height in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes—A SWEET collaborative study

“…High BMI z‐score is positively associated with current height although not necessarily with final height or with linear growth over time. It is well documented that obese youth are taller compared to lean youth, although their adult height may be compromised . The findings of the current study support these conclusions.…”

“…It is well documented that obese youth are taller compared to lean youth, although their adult height may be compromised. 13,25,26 The findings of the current study support these conclusions. Those with normal weight have the FIGURE 3 Shows the mean and confidence intervals for height zscore at onset and final height for each predefined region and gender.…”

“…In obese subjects, growth during childhood is accelerated but the final height seems compromised. 13 The same trend was also found in patients with T1D. 9 Optimal glycemic control likely influences child growth as insulin modulates the growth hormone/IGF-1 axis.…”

“…There is a well‐known relationship between body mass index (BMI) and height. In obese subjects, growth during childhood is accelerated but the final height seems compromised …”

Obesity and Hypogonadism—A Narrative Review Highlighting the Need for High-Quality Data in Adolescents

“…Heights of both pre-pubertal and pubertal male adolescents with obesity are higher than those of normal BMI controls in some studies [18,50]. However, studies also show that final adult height is reduced in adolescents with obesity compared to adolescents with normal weight [51,52]. Although height gain is greater in children (younger age) with obesity, adolescents with obesity have bone age advancement and hence stop growing sooner than adolescents without obesity [44,52,53,54].…”