Snimarjot Kaur, MBBS

Pronouns

She/Her/Hers

Rank

Research Fellow

Institution

MGH

BWH-MGH Title

Research Fellow

Department

Medicine

Authors

Snimarjot Kaur, Vibha Singhal, Lea Abou Haidar, Miriam Bredella, Madhusmita Misra

Differences in Bone Accrual over One Year in Adolescent Girls with Obesity compared to Normal Weight Controls

WMSS 2022

My year as a post-doctoral fellow at MGH has convinced me that my interests and future lie in a career that involves both clinical and translational research and in serving the pediatric population. Participating in the ‘Women in Science Symposium’ as the first female scientist and physician in my extended family will expose me to a multitude of innovations, ideas, and resources, and expand my horizon as a physician-scientist. Learning from colleagues and mentors who work at the confluence of science and clinical medicine will introduce me to role models who, I am sure, will inspire me throughout my career.

Background

Despite higher bone mineral density (BMD), women with obesity are at increased risk of fracture versus normal-weight women. Optimal adolescent bone accrual is critical for normal peak bone mass and future bone health. We examined bone accrual over a year in young women with moderate to severe obesity (OB) versus normal-weight controls (NWC).

Methods

We assessed 21 OB and 50 NWC 13-25 years old at baseline and one year. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to assess areal BMD (aBMD) and high resolution peripheral quantitative CT (distal radius and tibia) to assess volumetric BMD (vBMD), bone geometry and microarchitecture. Analyses were controlled for age and race.

Results

OB and NWC were similar for age, race, height, and physical activity. OB vs. NWC had higher BMI (p<0.0001), but younger menarchal age (p=0.022). Over one year, total hip BMD-Z scores decreased in OB and increased in NWC (p=0.02). Increases in radial cortical area and thickness, and total and cortical vBMD were lower in OB than NWC (p≤0.039). Groups did not differ for tibial parameters.

Conclusions

We demonstrate that longitudinal bone accrual is impaired at the total hip and radial cortex in young women with obesity, raising concerns regarding their future bone health.