All issues > Volume 53(2); 2010

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2010;53(2):146-151. Published online February 15, 2010.

A study of factors influencing advanced puberty

Yong Jun YJ Park¹, Chang Min CM Moon¹, Hwang Jae HJ Yoo¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Kwandong University, Goyang, Korea

Correspondence Hwang Jae HJ Yoo ,Tel: +82.31-810-5410, Fax: +82.31-969-0500, Email: heavendoctor@kd.ac.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the timing of puberty and the factors inducing advanced puberty in elemental school students of low grades.
Methods
: The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade elemental students from the Goyang province were randomly selected, and their sexual maturation rate was assessed by physical examination. After obtaining an informed consent, a questionnaire was administered to the parents; eating habits, lifestyle, use of growth-inducing medication, and present illness of the students were evaluated to determine the factors that induced advanced puberty. The data were statistically analyzed.
Results
: We selected 170 children and the girls:boys sex ratio was 1.2:1. Two 9-year-old boys were in genital stage 2. Two (14.3%) 6-year-old girls, 6 (19.4%) 7-year-old girls, 15 (39.6%) 8-year-old girls, and 4 (57.1%) 9-year-old girls were in breast stage 2. The average pubertal timing predicted for girls was 9.11¡¾1.86 years. The main factors influencing pubertal timing were obesity scale, frequency of eating fast food, and the use of growth-inducing medication. A high rating on the obesity scale and high frequency of eating fast food indicated advanced stage of puberty. Growth-inducing medication induced puberty through obesity.
Conclusion
: We proposed that predictive average pubertal timing in girls was 9.11¡¾1.86 years, which was consistent with the previously reported findings from abroad. The significant influencing factors in advanced puberty were obesity scale and frequency of fast food.

Keywords :Pubertal timing, Puberty