ADIPOSITY AND BIOLOGICAL MATURITY IN GIRLS 6-16 YEARS OF AGE

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between adi posity and skeletal maturity, relative skeletal maturity and percentag e of predicted adult stature. A representative sample of 6,029 Flemish girls aged 6-16 years of age was investigated. Age specific correlati ons between adiposity and biological maturity indicators were calculat ed and in each age group the fattest 5% were compared with the leanest 5%. Adiposity was estimated from the sum of five skinfolds (biceps, t riceps, subscapular, suprailiac and medial calf). Skeletal age was ass essed according to the Tanner-Whitehouse technique. Relative skeletal age was calculated as the difference between skeletal age and chronolo gical age and percentage of predicted adult stature was calculated acc ording to the Tanner-Whitehouse Mark II regression technique. Correlat ions between adiposity and maturity indicators are positive, but vary between r = 0.00 and r = 0.39. When stature is statistically controlle d, correlations are reduced slightly. The 5% fattest girls are equally advanced (0.2 to 1.2 years) as the 5% leanest girls are delayed (0.0 to 0.9 years) in skeletal maturation. Attained statures are consistent with the maturity data and indicate that size differences between fat and lean girls are primarily due to maturity differences. It was conc luded that during childhood and adolescence, fatness is associated wit h advanced and leanness with delayed biological maturity status. This association seems to have long term effects that merit further study.