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J Bone Miner Metab
DOI 10.1007/s00774-015-0654-6
REVIEW ARTICLE
Bone-adiposity cross-talk: implications for pediatric obesity
A narrative review of literature
Elodie Chaplais · David Thivel · David Greene ·
Frederic Dutheil · Pascale Duche ·
Geraldine Naughton · Daniel Courteix
Received: 21 September 2014 / Accepted: 12 January 2015
© The Japanese Society for Bone and Mineral Research and Springer Japan 2015
products by fat tissue and hormones produced in bone tis-
sue requires further investigations.
Keywords Obesity · Adolescents · Adipocyte · Osteocyte
Introduction
Obesity is a world health concern with high prevalence
among European and Australasian nations, including pedi-
atric populations [1]. Childhood obesity prevalence has dra-
matically increased over the past 4 decades [2]. For exam-
ple, in 2013, respectively, 20 and 24 % of boys and 16 and
23 % of girls were overweight or obese in France and Aus-
tralia [3]. Childhood obesity is known to be a risk factor
for obesity later in life [4], leading to various repercussions
on the metabolism, including the bone remodeling process.
Indeed, bone mass is acquired by a complex and dynamic
process involving resorption of bone by osteoclasts and
formation of bone by osteoblasts [5]. As the peripubertal
period is the most opportune time to boost bone structure,
any negative influence during this period can adversely
alter peak bone mass and contribute to increased risk of
skeletal fractures in children and adolescents [6, 7].
Due to the important skeletal generation of adipocyte
hormonal products, the impact of obesity on bone metabo-
lism is gaining the attention of researchers. Currently, the
complex relationship between fat mass and bone mass is
well established [8]. Obesity effectively leads to hormo-
nal alterations associated with increasing proinflammatory
cytokines and oxidative stress, favoring the accumulation
of fat mass and loss of bone mass [8]. These physical and
biological relations must be considered in obesity investiga-
tions and interventions. In fact, excess body mass plays an
important role in the mechanical response of the skeleton
Abstract The rising prevalence of overweight and obe-
sity among pediatric populations has become a major
global concern. The objective of this review is to demon-
strate potential interactions between the products released
by fat tissue and the hormonal production of bone tissue
in obese children and adolescents. Advancing the under-
standing of the complex interactions between adipocyte
and osteocyte activities may contribute to the mechanistic
understanding of the body’s responses to weight loss dur-
ing adolescence. This knowledge could also reveal any
side effects encountered with these interventions. Cur-
rently, the concept of bone-adiposity crosstalk has not been
fully elucidated, and the mechanisms remain controversial.
Understanding the local interactions between the released
E. Chaplais · D. Thivel · F. Dutheil · P. Duche · D. Courteix
Laboratory of the Metabolic Adaptations to Exercise
under Physiological and Pathological Conditions (AME2P),
EA 3533, Clermont University, Blaise Pascal University,
Clermont-Ferrand, France
E. Chaplais (*) · D. Greene · F. Dutheil · G. Naughton ·
D. Courteix
School of Exercise Science, Australian Catholic University,
Strathfield campus, Locked Bag 2002, Strathfield, NSW 2135,
Australia
e-mail: e.chaplais@live.fr
D. Thivel · P. Duche · D. Courteix
CRNH-Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
F. Dutheil
Occupational Medicine, University Hospital CHU G. Montpied,
63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
G. Naughton
School of Exercise Science, Australian Catholic University,
Melbourne campus, Fitzroy MDC, Locked Bag 4115, Fitzroy,
VIC 3065, Australia
Author's personal copy