Effects of Puberty Suppression and Sex Steroids on Weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), and Lipid Profiles in Danish Transgender Adolescents
Authors' conclusion
Overweight, obesity, and dyslipidemia were common in transgender adolescents before HT initiation. BMI did not deteriorate, but dyslipidemia worsened slightly during sex steroid therapy in trans boys but not in trans girls.
Study context
- Population
- Danish transgender adolescents starting hormone therapy (HT) (gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (GnRHa) before or alongside sex steroids) before 18 years of age
- Participants
- 164 vs 55
- Exposure
- Trans boys vs Trans girls
- Trans boysn = 164
- Trans girlsn = 55
- Outcome
- Weight, BMI and lipid profiles
- Follow-up
- Start of HT and routine visits
Methodological detailsnational cohort
- National cohort
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
before HT
- Overweight, Trans boys
- 26.8%
- Obesity, Trans boys
- 22.0%
- Overweight, Trans girls
- 5.7%
- Obesity, Trans girls
- 5.7%
- Lipids above reference: total cholesterol, Trans boys vs Trans girls
- 12.5% and 6.1%
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) above reference, Trans boys vs Trans girls
- 21.8% and 12.5%
- TG above reference, Trans boys vs Trans girls
- 3.4% and 6.3%
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL) below reference, Trans boys vs Trans girls
- 9.0% and 18.4%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Changes during GnRHa monotherapy
- Trend toward declining weight SDS; BMI SDS and lipid profiles did not change consistently
Changes after initiation of sex steroids · after sex steroid initiation
- Trans boys: weight SDS, BMI SDS and HDL decreased, TG increased
- Trans girls: HDL increased
Original publication
Effects of Puberty Suppression and Sex Steroids on Weight, BMI, and Lipid Profiles in Danish Transgender Adolescents. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published 7 October 2025. doi:10.
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