title: Continuation of gradual weight gain necessary for the onset of puberty may be responsible for obesity later in life.
abstract: A continuation of the gradual weight gain necessary for the onset of puberty may be responsible for obesity later in life. Hypothetically, a group of brain nuclei form components of a single pubertal clock mechanism that drives pre-pubertal weight gain and governs the onset of puberty and fertility. No mechanism evolved to shut off pre-pubertal and pubertal weight and body fat gain after puberty. The weight gain continues unabated throughout life. A better understanding of the mechanism of puberty and pre-pubertal weight gain could provide new insights into obesity and diseases associated with obesity such as type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, heart disease, depression, etc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1236, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lehrer
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009765:Obesity / Q000473:pathology*; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology*; D015430:Weight Gain