Puberty and Weight: What Every Parent Should Know
By Dr. Lisa Tritto, Pediatrician & Obesity Medicine Specialist
Puberty is a time of tremendous physical, emotional, and developmental change. As children grow into adolescents, their bodies go through major shifts—and weight is a key part of that journey. Many parents wonder what's normal, what's not, and when to seek help. Here's what you need to know about the connection between puberty and weight.
How Puberty Affects Weight
Hormonal changes during puberty influence how the body stores fat and builds muscle. Girls typically gain more body fat as estrogen levels rise, while boys develop more lean muscle mass due to testosterone. It's not unusual for children to gain weight rapidly during growth spurts. In fact, increased appetite and caloric needs are completely normal during this stage.
Puberty also brings a natural decrease in insulin sensitivity, especially during early adolescence. This change can lead to increased fat storage, even if activity levels stay the same. Sleep patterns often shift as well, and poor sleep can further impact weight gain.
These changes are expected, but it's important to monitor how they occur. Tracking your child’s growth using BMI-for-age percentiles (rather than just weight alone) can help determine whether they’re following a healthy trajectory.
How Weight Affects Puberty
Just as puberty impacts weight, a child’s weight can influence when and how puberty begins. In girls, higher body fat is often linked to earlier puberty. Fat cells produce leptin, a hormone that can trigger the brain to start the puberty process. This means girls with overweight or obesity may start developing earlier than peers.
In contrast, boys with obesity may experience delayed puberty. Higher levels of body fat can affect testosterone levels and hormonal signals needed to initiate puberty.
Additionally, excess weight in girls increases the risk for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition that can cause irregular periods, acne, and excess hair growth, and may further complicate the timeline of puberty.
Supporting Your Child Through the Changes
Puberty is complex. It's a time when kids are navigating physical growth, emotional ups and downs, peer relationships, and evolving self-image. Weight-related changes can make this transition even more challenging.
Here are a few ways to support your child:
Focus on overall health, not weight
Encourage regular meals and physical activity
Model body-positive language
Ensure your child gets enough sleep
Seek medical guidance if you're concerned about early or delayed puberty
When to Talk to a Specialist
If you’re concerned about your child’s weight or how puberty is progressing, a pediatric specialist can help. Board-certified pediatric obesity medicine physicians can assess growth patterns, evaluate for medical conditions, and create a compassionate plan tailored to your child’s needs.
At Evora for Kids, we support children and families starting at age 5. We see patients in St. Louis, Missouri and offer telehealth visits for families throughout Missouri, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.
