Abstract

Objective:
To evaluate the relationship between a high-fat diet and obesity with the prevalence of precocious puberty (PP) in Saudi Arabia.
Methods:
This is a retrospective cohort study conducted at Children's Caregivers in Saudi Arabia between June and August, 2023. Data were collected through a pre-validated and translated self-administered electronic questionnaire among parents/caregivers and children diagnosed with PP.
Results:
A total of 149 participants (95 parents/caregivers and 54 children) were eligible for this study. Around 56.8% children diagnosed with PP were younger than 10 years. The common causes for PP were family history (33.7%), weight increase (20%), malnutrition (16.8%), pituitary gland diseases (23%), thyroid disorders (47.4%), and chronic diseases (9.5%). High-fat diet (68.1%; p = 0.049) and obesity (53.2%; p = 0.049) were the significant primary risk factors for early pubertal development. Other significant risk factors associated with PP were consumption of artificial foods (25.5%; p = 0.049) and pituitary gland diseases (45.7%; p = 0.049). Fast food (52.6%) was the leading food type consumed by children diagnosed with PP. Further, fried foods (47.4%), canned products (34.7%), flavoured juice and milk (36.8%), and homemade juice/milk (30.5%) were also associated with PP development due to obesity and a high-fat diet. Moreover, 25.3% participants had good knowledge about PP in children.
Conclusion:
This study showed that PP is a common endocrine problem in Saudi Arabia, with a poor understanding of its prevalence. The type of foods consumed and children's obese status were the significant and leading risk factors in PP prevalence.

Key words: Precocious puberty, obesity, high-fat diet, relation, Saudi Arabia.