Mechanisms Linking Body Weight to Early Puberty in Children

Childhood overweight and obesity have been associated with earlier pubertal onset most commonly in girls than boys. An ever-increasing number of factors contributing to this association have been identified, including leptin, insulin, sirtuins, epigenetic factors and gut-derived molecules, such as short-chain fatty acids. This review aims to identify all the mechanisms involved in early puberty amongst children with increased weight and possibly help early detection and reduce any long-term related risks associated with precocious puberty in overweight children. Clarifying these links is clinically important for monitoring pubertal progression and cardiometabolic risk in children with obesity, and for informing prevention and early intervention aimed at reducing long term adverse outcome.