Nutrition and malnutrition: exogenous versus endocrine obesity: practice question

A Pediatrics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pediatrics · Nutrition and malnutrition: exogenous versus endocrine obesity

Sample item

A 9-year-old with a BMI above the 97th centile is taller than most peers, with an advanced bone age, normal blood pressure and no striae. What is the most likely cause?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Simple nutritional obesity

In simple exogenous obesity the child is tall for age with advanced bone age because excess nutrition and insulin accelerate growth. In endocrine causes such as hypothyroidism, Cushing syndrome and GH deficiency, obesity is accompanied by short stature or slow growth.

Option by option

  • A. Simple nutritional obesity (correct)

    Correct. Tall stature with advanced bone age is characteristic of nutritional obesity.

  • B. Growth hormone deficiency

    GH deficiency causes short stature and delayed bone age with truncal fat.

  • C. Cushing syndrome

    Cushing syndrome causes growth failure with striae and hypertension.

  • D. Hypothyroidism

    Hypothyroidism causes slow growth with delayed bone age.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is A, Simple nutritional obesity. In simple exogenous obesity the child is tall for age with advanced bone age because excess nutrition and insulin accelerate growth.

Why is "Growth hormone deficiency" not the answer?

GH deficiency causes short stature and delayed bone age with truncal fat.

Why is "Cushing syndrome" not the answer?

Cushing syndrome causes growth failure with striae and hypertension.

Why is "Hypothyroidism" not the answer?

Hypothyroidism causes slow growth with delayed bone age.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nutrition and malnutrition: exogenous versus endocrine obesity in Pediatrics. In endocrine causes such as hypothyroidism, Cushing syndrome and GH deficiency, obesity is accompanied by short stature or slow growth.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Nutrition and malnutrition: exogenous versus endocrine obesity?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.