Bone age development among obese children from a child health care clinic

Objective To investigate the current situation of bone age development among obese children aged 7－12 and analyze the factors associated with it so as to provide scientific evidence for better control of bone age development among obese children.

Methods A total of 203 obese children aged 7－12 who visited outpatient clinic of child health care department, Luohu District Maternal and Child Health Hospital were recruited as case group from July 1^st, 2020 to December 30^th, 2021, and 244 normal children were recruited as control group. Bone age development were compared between 2 groups.

Results Bone age of all boys or girls in the case group was earlier than their actual age (P < 0.05). The difference of bone age between case group and control group was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The proportion of obese children with advanced bone age was higher than that of normal children (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that male gender was a protective factor of premature bone age and a risk factor for delayed bone age, while obesity was a risk factor of premature bone age(all P < 0.05).

Conclusion Obese children are more likely to have early bone age than normal children. Girls are more likely to have early bone age, whole boys are more likely to show delayed bone age development.