Sex-specific fat distribution is not linear across pubertal groups in a multiethnic study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate sexual dimorphism and race differences in fat distribution (android/gynoid) before and during puberty.


METHODS
Fat distribution was measured by skinfold thickness and DXA in healthy African-American, Asian, and white subjects (n = 920), divided into pre-, early, and late pubertal groups.


RESULTS
Gynoid fat masses adjusted for covariates were lower in late pubertal compared with prepubertal boys, but were not consistently greater in late pubertal compared with prepubertal girls. Progression of sex-specific fat distribution with increasing maturation was present in Asians only. Among African-American and white subjects, early pubertal boys had greater gynoid fat mass compared with the prepubertal group, whereas early pubertal girls had less gynoid fat mass compared with the prepubertal group. Sexual dimorphism in fat distribution was present in all pubertal groups, except among whites at early puberty. Among girls, Asians had lower gynoid fat than whites and African Americans in all pubertal groups. Among boys, Asians had less gynoid fat by DXA in early puberty and late puberty.


CONCLUSIONS
Comparison among races demonstrated differences in sexual dimorphism and sex-specific fat distribution with progression in pubertal group. However, in all race groups, the fat distribution of late pubertal boys was more "male" or "android" than prepubertal boys, but late pubertal girls did not differ consistently from prepubertal girls. These findings suggested that the greater sexual dimorphism of fat distribution in late puberty compared with prepuberty may be attributable to larger changes in boys with smaller changes in girls.
He
Qing
Q
Body Composition Unit-Obesity Research Center, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, Plant Basement New York, New York 10025, USA.
Horlick
Mary
M
Thornton
John
J
Wang
Jack
J
Pierson
Richard N
RN
Heshka
Stanley
S
Gallagher
Dympna
D
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D001213:Asian; D001823:Body Composition; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty; D044469:Racial Groups; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D044465:White People