Early-growth faltering in post-institutionalized youth and later anthropometric and pubertal development

BACKGROUND: Early life adversity that increases the risk of growth stunting is hypothesized to increase the risk of obesity and, in girls, early onset puberty. This hypothesis was tested in children adopted from orphanages. METHODS: Post-institutionalized (PI) youth were compared with youth reared in comparable families (non-adopted; NA) on height, weight, pubertal stage, and fat mass (127 PI, 80 female; 156 NA, 85 female, aged 7–14 years). Anthropometrics at adoption were obtained from first US clinic visits. RESULTS: 25% of PIs were height stunted (<3rd percentile) at adoption. Years post adoption, PIs had lower BMI-for-age (p = .004); height-for-age (p < .001); and less body fat (p < .001) than NAs, but did not differ by sex. Pubertal status did not differ by group or sex. The anthropometric findings held when the stunted-at-adoption subset was examined; they were also less likely to be in central puberty than other PI youth. CONCLUSION: Early deprived orphanage care increases the risk of growth stunting but not obesity in children adopted into US families and does not independently contribute to early onset puberty for PI girls. The role of the environment following early adversity may modify the impact of early adverse care.