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A groundbreaking study involving nearly one million adolescent boys has revealed a significant link between delayed puberty and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in early adulthood. The research, conducted by a team of Israeli scientists, was presented at the first Joint Congress of the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE).
Key Findings
The study tracked 964,108 Israeli boys aged 16–19 who were recruited for military service between 1992 and 2015. Of these, 4,307 were diagnosed with delayed puberty. Researchers followed the participants until the end of 2019, analyzing the incidence of type 2 diabetes.
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Increased Risk: Boys with delayed puberty were found to be about 2.5 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes in early adulthood compared to their peers who experienced puberty at the average age.
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Weight-Independent Risk: Even after adjusting for body weight, the risk remained 37% higher for those with delayed puberty.
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Incidence Rates: Annually, about 140 per 100,000 teens with delayed puberty developed type 2 diabetes, versus just 41 per 100,000 among those without delayed puberty.
Expert Insights
Lead author Professor Orit Pinhas-Hamiel from Sheba Medical Center commented, “To our knowledge, our large-scale study is the first to report an association between delayed puberty in adolescent boys and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.” She noted that while delayed puberty has traditionally been regarded as a benign condition, these findings suggest it could serve as an early-life marker for increased diabetes risk.
Professor Pinhas-Hamiel explained, “We think the higher risk of early type 2 diabetes in boys with delayed puberty may be due to a window of opportunity during development when the body is especially sensitive to hormones and environmental factors-similar to how early childhood shapes language skills or how puberty affects bone strength.”
Implications for Prevention and Care
The study’s authors emphasize the importance of recognizing delayed puberty in boys as a potential risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Early identification could enable targeted prevention strategies and closer medical follow-up, potentially improving long-term metabolic health outcomes.
About the Study
The research was a collaborative effort between Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Maccabi Healthcare Services, the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps, the Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, and the Israel Center for Disease Control. Data on delayed puberty were sourced from the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps, while diabetes diagnoses were retrieved from the Israeli National Diabetes Registry.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on findings presented at a scientific conference and published by News Medical. The results are preliminary and should not be considered as medical advice. Individuals concerned about puberty timing or diabetes risk should consult healthcare professionals for personalized guidance.
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