Influence of sexual maturation status on the relationship between body adiposity indicators and age: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the influence of sexual maturation status on adiposity indicators of children and adolescents. Results: 2412 individuals participated, 1285 (47.4%) males and 1408 (52.6%) females. There was moderate to weak correlation between age and adiposity indicators for both sexes. By analyzing the relationship between age and body fat indexes adjusted for Sexual Maturation Status, several changes were observed, mainly in girls. Precocious maturation was associated with increased adiposity indicators in girls, whereas late maturation was associated with decreased adiposity indicators in both sexes. Precocious maturation was associated with increased adiposity indicators in girls, whereas late maturation was associated with decreased adiposity indicators in both sexes.