title: The gonadal function in obese adolescents: review.
abstract: This review deals with the relationship between obesity in male adolescents and gonadal function. The article is structured in two main paragraphs; the first one is about population studies that have assessed puberty timing and its mode of onset in relation with body weight to evaluate if and how the latter can influence the gonadal function in this phase of life. These studies analyze issues such as increased BMI and early onset of male puberty, gender differences, secular trend toward early onset of puberty in males, effects of a different body composition on male puberty and consequences of a different stage of childhood obesity on the onset of male puberty. The second paragraph examines the possible mechanisms through which, obesity may alter the timing of puberty in young males, including the role of SHBG, leptin, insulin resistance, ghrelin, GH-IGF-1 axis, AR polymorphisms, primary testicular dysfunction, retinol binding protein 4 (RBP-4) and liver function abnormalities. However, despite the numerous studies in the literature, the etiology of gonadal disfunction in obese adolescents on puberty remains uncertain.
authors.affiliation: Section of Endocrinology, Andrology and Internal Medicine, Department of Medical and Pediatric Sciences, University of Catania, Policlinico "G. Rodolico", Via S. Sofia 78, Building 4, Room 2C18, 95123, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosita A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Condorelli
authors.forename: Aldo E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Calogero
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vicari
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mongioi'
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Favilla
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morgia
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cimino
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: La Vignera
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D006066:Gonads / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I