Declining Age of Puberty in Girls: What Are the Causes and Impacts of Early Development?

These days, girls reach puberty earlier and earlier. Some girls get breasts as early as six or seven years old.

People are afraid that this trend could hurt the mental and physical health of young girls.

Declining Age of Puberty in Girls: What Are the Causes and Impacts of Early Development? — (Photo: Unsplash/Richard Stachmann)

Causes of Early Puberty Onset

The growing numbers of obese and overweight teenagers and young adults mainly cause early puberty. Obesity describes more than just extra body fat.

When a person reaches puberty, the body's fat cells release substances like leptin, insulin, and insulin-like growth factor 1. Girls with more body fat produce more estrogen. Menarche can happen early, and breast development may follow.

Not getting enough fruits and vegetables and having a lot of processed foods and animal proteins has been linked to starting puberty early. It has been linked to eating a lot of bad snacks, desserts, fried foods, and sugary drinks that you make more estrogen. Teenage years can start faster when you have estrogen.

Another crucial consideration involves exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs), such as phthalates and bisphenols. Common products containing these substances include plastics, food packaging, and household goods.

Being around these compounds can cause your body's hormones to fall out of balance, which might cause the early onset of puberty. Studies have indicated that increased air pollution and perfluorinated substances can potentially lead to pregnancy before a woman is ready.

Starting puberty early has been connected to early life stress of abuse or financial difficulties. The axis known as hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) controls stress reactions. These reactions can change when a person hits puberty.

A rise in early puberty has also been linked to the COVID-19 outbreak. This is because it makes people more stressed, passive, and prone to computer time.

How Early Puberty Affects Teenagers

Early puberty poses long-term health risks. Children grow faster at first but gradually slow down, becoming shorter as adults.

Those who reach puberty before their due date are more likely to be overweight and develop type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, or heart disease as adults. Breast and uterine cancer risk increases with age.

Early puberty can harm mental health. Premature girls are more prone to struggle with despair, anxiety, body image, and emotions.

It might be hard for them to make friends, and more likely that they will be bullied or sexually attacked if they don't fit in with their peers. Teenage girls may also get sexual attention they don't want and feel like they have to drink and have sexual intercourse too soon.

Parents and doctors help manage early puberty. Help and reassure the child that their situation is normal. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists can halt growth and reduce the negative effects of early or rapid puberty.

Many factors can cause girls to achieve puberty early: obesity, poor diet, proximity to chemicals that alter hormones, and early-in-life stress. When you hit puberty early, your body and mind change. To help young girls get through these changes healthily and confidently, getting help early, spreading the word, and giving them good care is important.