Obesity Is Strongly Associated With Low Testosterone and Reduced Penis Growth During Development.

Abstract

CONTEXT:

Growth of male genitalia represents an important marker of sexual development. Testicle size is the primary measure and little is known regards penile length changes during puberty.

OBJECTIVE:

This work aims to assess penis growth and testosterone levels in obese vs normal-weight children and adolescents, to evaluate a possible influence of obesity on genital development in boys, and to establish a new method for measuring penis length that allows comparison of normal-weight and overweight boys.

METHODS:

We assessed anthropometric and genital development in 1130 boys from birth to age 20 years. Testosterone levels were also measured. A new method for penile length measurement was employed to minimize errors when comparing obese and nonobese children. Penis length was measured with a gentle, painless, straight positioning on a centimetric ruler without stretching, which is doable from the first years of life until the end of adolescence.

RESULTS:

Penis length and testosterone are strongly related in children during puberty. Penile length growth is significantly decreased (by about 10%) in obese boys when compared to normal-weight boys, with concomitantly reduced testosterone levels, across puberal phases.

CONCLUSION:

Childhood obesity represents an important determinant of lower testosterone level and reduced penis development. A new method should be employed to improve penis measurement in normal-weight and overweight/obese boys. The possible significance of these observations for adult genital development and reproductive potential will require large longitudinal studies.

• Authors: Mario Mancini, Francesca Pecori Giraldi, Alice Andreassi, Gianna Mantellassi, Michela Salvioni, Cesare C Berra, Roberto Manfrini, Giuseppe Banderali, Franco Folli
• Journal: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (J Clin Endocrinol Metab) Vol. 106 Issue 11 Pg. 3151-3159 (10 21 2021) ISSN: 1945-7197 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 34283215 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: [email protected].

Chemical References

• Testosterone

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Endocrine System Diseases (blood, epidemiology)
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Infant
• Infant, Newborn
• Italy (epidemiology)
• Longitudinal Studies
• Male
• Pediatric Obesity (physiopathology)
• Penis (growth & development, metabolism, pathology)
• Prognosis
• Testosterone (blood)
• Young Adult