Delayed puberty in male adolescents is associated with a significantly higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes by early adulthood.
The hazard ratio for type 2 diabetes was 2.47 in those with delayed puberty, remaining at 1.37 even after adjusting for baseline body mass index (BMI).
This nationwide study suggests that delayed pubertal onset is not merely a benign developmental variation but may serve as an early clinical marker for metabolic impairment.
The Rising Challenge of Early-Onset Metabolic Disease
