Research Article: Impact of dietary patterns on body weight in girls with central precocious puberty treated with leuprolide during the COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract:
To evaluate the nutritional status and dietary patterns of girls with central precocious puberty (CPP) undergoing treatment with leuprolide acetate during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 59 girls, aged 5–13 years, diagnosed with CPP and treated with leuprolide acetate. Between May and December 2021, a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and a 24-hour dietary recall (24-h DR) were administered. The Fornés score was used to quantify consumption markers of healthy (beans, fruits, vegetables, and greens) and unhealthy (hamburgers, sugar-sweetened beverages, ultra-processed foods, and sweets) foods. Higher scores reflected greater intake of the respective food groups.
Of the participants, 31 (52.5%) showed a reduction in their BMI Z-score (mean change: ?0.32?±?0.26), while 28 (47.5%) had an increase (mean change: 0.25?±?0.22). Girls who reduced their BMI Z-score had significantly higher Fornés scores for healthy food markers ( p =?0.02), particularly for fresh fruits ( p =?0.04) and greens and vegetables ( p =?0.01). A negative correlation was found between BMI Z-score variation and the Fornés score for healthy food markers ( p =?0.02), including fruits ( p =?0.02) and greens and vegetables ( p =?0.02). No significant associations were observed between BMI Z-score variation and age at treatment onset ( p =?0.22) or treatment duration ( p =?0.43).
In girls with CPP treated with leuprolide acetate, greater consumption of healthy foods—especially fruits and vegetables—was associated with decreased BMI Z-scores. These findings underscore the role of dietary quality in energy balance and support nutritional monitoring during GnRHa therapy, particularly under lifestyle-altering conditions such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Introduction:
Central precocious puberty (CPP) is characterized by the early activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, leading to pubertal development in girls younger than eight years of age ( 1 , 2 ). The incidence of CPP is estimated to range from 1 in 5,000–1 in 10,000 children, occurring predominantly in girls. An increase in CPP cases was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period marked by significant changes in dietary habits and a rise in obesity prevalence ( 3 , 4 ). Nutritional status is…
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