Prepubertal Growth Trajectory and Pubertal Onset

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Secular trends indicate a long-term change in puberty timing, with recent studies showing a rise in early puberty onset since the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Higher body mass index (BMI) is linked to earlier pubertal onset, but most studies have not tracked growth from birth to puberty.
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Cumulative exposure to adiposity may better predict diabetes risk in adults, yet its impact on pubertal timing in children remains unclear.
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This study utilized data from two birth cohorts to analyze BMI trajectories and their association with pubertal timing.
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The parent-reported Pubertal Development Scale was used to assess pubertal status, demonstrating good reliability and alignment with physical examinations.

Jama Network Open

by Rui Deng, Weiqin Li, Jiali Duan, Tianshu Feng, Liumei Wei, Xingxiu Li, Junhong Leng, Xijie Wang, Bin Dong, Susan M. Sawyer
June 9, 2026

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