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Volume 16
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Review

Childhood Obesity, Hypothalamic Inflammation, and the Onset of Puberty: A Narrative Review

by
Anastasia-Maria Tzounakou
1,
Galateia Stathori
1,
George Paltoglou
2,
Georgios Valsamakis
3,
George Mastorakos
3,
Nikolaos F. Vlahos
3 and
Evangelia Charmandari
1,4,*
1
Center for the Prevention and Management of Overweight and Obesity, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, ‘Aghia Sophia’ Children’s Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
2
Diabetes Unit, Second Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, ‘P. & A. Kyriakou’ Children’s Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
3
Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, ‘Aretaieion’ University Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece
4
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Nutrients 2024, 16(11), 1720; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111720
Submission received: 15 February 2024 / Revised: 23 May 2024 / Accepted: 24 May 2024 / Published: 31 May 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Obesity in Childhood and Adolescence: Etiology, Prevention and Treatment)
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Abstract

The onset of puberty, which is under the control of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis, is influenced by various factors, including obesity, which has been associated with the earlier onset of puberty. Obesity-induced hypothalamic inflammation may cause premature activation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons, resulting in the development of precocious or early puberty. Mechanisms involving phoenixin action and hypothalamic microglial cells are implicated. Furthermore, obesity induces structural and cellular brain alterations, disrupting metabolic regulation. Imaging studies reveal neuroinflammatory changes in obese individuals, impacting pubertal timing. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy enables the assessment of the brain’s neurochemical composition by measuring key metabolites, highlighting potential pathways involved in neurological changes associated with obesity. In this article, we present evidence indicating a potential association among obesity, hypothalamic inflammation, and precocious puberty.
Keywords: central precocious puberty; childhood obesity; hypothalamic inflammation; neuroinflammation central precocious puberty; childhood obesity; hypothalamic inflammation; neuroinflammation

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MDPI and ACS Style

Tzounakou, A.-M.; Stathori, G.; Paltoglou, G.; Valsamakis, G.; Mastorakos, G.; Vlahos, N.F.; Charmandari, E. Childhood Obesity, Hypothalamic Inflammation, and the Onset of Puberty: A Narrative Review. Nutrients 2024, 16, 1720. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111720

AMA Style

Tzounakou A-M, Stathori G, Paltoglou G, Valsamakis G, Mastorakos G, Vlahos NF, Charmandari E. Childhood Obesity, Hypothalamic Inflammation, and the Onset of Puberty: A Narrative Review. Nutrients. 2024; 16(11):1720. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111720

Chicago/Turabian Style

Tzounakou, Anastasia-Maria, Galateia Stathori, George Paltoglou, Georgios Valsamakis, George Mastorakos, Nikolaos F. Vlahos, and Evangelia Charmandari. 2024. "Childhood Obesity, Hypothalamic Inflammation, and the Onset of Puberty: A Narrative Review" Nutrients 16, no. 11: 1720. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111720

APA Style

Tzounakou, A.-M., Stathori, G., Paltoglou, G., Valsamakis, G., Mastorakos, G., Vlahos, N. F., & Charmandari, E. (2024). Childhood Obesity, Hypothalamic Inflammation, and the Onset of Puberty: A Narrative Review. Nutrients, 16(11), 1720. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111720

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