A new study from researchers at Michigan University has shown that obesity causes later onset puberty in boys. While the opposite is true for heavier girls, who tend to develop earlier rather than later, this study suggests that increased levels of body fat in boys is associated with a later onset of puberty. 

U.S government data on 401 boys from diverse economic backgrounds in 10 regions were analyzed for this study. The boys were born in 1991, and their height and weight were recorded from ages 2 to 12 as part of the National Institute of Child Health and Child Development Study of Early Child Care and You Development. The data revealed that later onset of puberty occurred in 7 percent of boys with low body mass index (BMI), 13.3 percent of those with medium MBI, and 14 percent in those with high BMI.

Childhood obesity rates in the United States have more than doubled over the past two decades, making it increasingly important to understand how excess body fat affects children's growth and development. The skyrocketing rates also reinforce the importance of placing an emphasis on excercise and nutrition programs in our schools and after school programs. In a society where computers, video games, and other technologies take up the majority of children's free time, physical activity along with proper nutrition has become marginalized and generally "uncool." 

Maybe if physical activities were promoted in a way that made them seem cool, socially valuable, and look as appealing as a video game commercial, kids would be more likely to want to take part in physical activities, whether sponsored through the school, a recreation center, or just in their neighborhood.

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