Sex Differences in Leptin Levels in Children and Adolescents with Normal Weight and Overweight/Obesity Across Pubertal Stages: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Pooled result · Leptin levels, children with NWResult — go to the resultPooled MD 3.99 95% CI 2.63–5.35Authors' conclusion
The sex-specific differences in leptin levels, characteristic of normal-weight (pre-)pubertal children is lost in obesity. Therefore, leptin levels alone are unlikely to explain why obesity accelerates puberty in girls more than in boys. A combined effect with other factors, such as sex dimorphism in kisspeptin, may play a role.
Study context
- Population
- Children aged 5 to 19 years with normal weight (NW) or overweight (OW)/obesity (OB), across pubertal stages24 studies
- Comparison
- Girls vs boys
- Outcome
- Sex differences in leptin levels across pubertal stages
Methodological detailssubgroup meta-analysis stratified for pubertal stage, random effects model, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane and CINAHL searched from inception until February 2025, Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed study quality
- Subgroup meta-analysis stratified for pubertal stage
- Random effects model
- Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane and CINAHL searched from inception until February 2025
- Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed study quality
Pooled result
Leptin levels, children with NW · all pubertal stages
Pooled MD
3.99
95% CI 2.63–5.35
Girlsvs Boys
pooled MD 3.99 (95% CI 2.63–5.35)
As reported in the abstract
Further pooled results
| Outcome | MD (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Leptin levels, children with OW/OB · postpubertal stage | 14.60 (0.95–28.25) | |
| BMI SD score, pubertal children with OW/OB · pubertal stage | −0.67 (−0.74 to −0.61) | |
| −2002040Difference (linear scale) |
- Leptin levels, children with OW/OB: based on 1 included study
Leptin levels, children with OW/OB · prepubertal and pubertal stages
- No significant differences between girls and boys
Original publication
Sex Differences in Leptin Levels in Children and Adolescents with Normal Weight and Overweight/Obesity Across Pubertal Stages: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published 15 November 2025. doi:10.
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