Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr.  2020 Jan;23(1):89-97. 10.5223/pghn.2020.23.1.89.

Factors associated with Advanced Bone Age in Overweight and Obese Children

• Oh MS
• Kim S
• Lee J
• Lee MS
• Kim YJ
• Kang KS

• KMID: 2467897
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5223/pghn.2020.23.1.89

Abstract

PURPOSE
Obese children may often present with advanced bone age. We aimed to evaluate the correlation between factors associated with childhood obesity and advanced bone age.
METHODS
We enrolled 232 overweight or obese children. Anthropometric and laboratory data, and the degree of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were measured. We analyzed factors associated with advanced bone age by measuring the differences between bone and chronological ages.
RESULTS
The normal and advanced bone age groups were comprised of 183 (78.9%) and 49 (21.1%) children, respectively. The prevalence of advanced bone age significantly increased as the percentiles of height, weight, waist circumference, and body mass index (BMI) increased. BMI z-score was higher in the advanced bone age group than in the normal bone age group (2.43±0.52 vs. 2.10±0.46; p < 0.001). The levels of insulin (27.80±26.13 μU/mL vs. 18.65±12.33 μU/mL; p=0.034) and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (6.56±6.18 vs. 4.43±2.93; p=0.037) were significantly higher, while high density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were lower (43.88±9.98 mg/dL vs. 48.95±10.50 mg/dL; p=0.005) in the advanced bone age group compared to those in the normal bone age group, respectively. The prevalence of advanced bone age was higher in obese children with metabolic syndrome than in those without (28.2% vs. 14.7%; p=0.016). The prevalence of advanced bone age was higher in obese children with a more severe degree of NAFLD.
CONCLUSION
Advanced bone age is associated with a severe degree of obesity and its complications.

Keyword

Obesity; Children; Bone age; Metabolic syndrome; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

MeSH Terms

Body Mass Index
Child*
Humans
Insulin
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Obesity
Overweight*
Pediatric Obesity
Prevalence
Waist Circumference
Insulin

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The correlation between degrees of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and bone age of obese children. The graph shows the prevalence rate of advanced bone age was increased as the degree of NAFLD was higher (p=0.002, linear-by-linear association for trend).

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