Premature Puberty in Obese Female Children Aged 5-17 in the United States for 2013-2014

The prevalence of obesity in female children in the Unites States has increased from 5% to 17.1% from 1965 to 2015 and the prevalence of premature puberty has increased as well. Increased weight is correlated with premature puberty in females and interestingly, different studies have shown that there has been a gradual decline of age for onset of puberty. Early sexual maturation in female children are associated with many negative consequences such as increased risk of adult obesity, type 2 diabetes, increased aggression, increased adolescent risk taking behaviors, increased sexual activity, and breast cancer. The target population for this study is obese female children in the United States in the past 5 years. Using the primary data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the specific study population of obese females aged 5 through 17 years in the United States recorded during the period January 2013 - December 2014. The results of this study also showed a mean BMI of 21.1 which was higher than the 2015 average of 17.1 while a mean age of puberty was found to be 11.3 which is higher than the 2015 average of 9. The strength of correlation was found with Spearman's Rho. In this study, the results have shown a contrasting view and have shown a negative weak association between the two variables with a rho value of -.089. Efforts towards a reduction of obesity is expected to yield a lowered incidence of premature puberty.