Girls Are Reaching Puberty Earlier
Girls Are Reaching Puberty Earlier – The trend is thought to be linked to obesity or exposure to chemicals in food.
The changes in development are also exposing younger girls to a greater long-term risk of breast cancer.
A study by the Department of Growth and Reproduction at the University Hospital in Copenhagen has found that the breast development in a sample of 1000 girls began on average at the age of nine years and 10 months.
A similar study in 1991 found the same developments taking place a year later.
The age at which children hit puberty has been steadily falling. In the 19th century, girls reached puberty about the age of 15, with 17 the average age for boys.
In the 1960s this fell to about 12.5 in girls, 14 for boys.
One factor that could explain the phenomenon is diet – children are growing bigger as they continue to eat more than previous generations.
The Danish study was carried out in 2006, which was the latest year for which figures were available, but the trend is believed to apply to Britain and other parts of Europe.
“We were very surprised that there had been such a change in a period of just 15 years,” said researcher Anders Jul.
“If girls mature early, they run into teenage problems at an early age and they’re more prone to diseases later on.
“It’s a clear sign that something is affecting our children, whether it’s junk food, environmental chemicals or lack of physical activity.”
Tags: 10 Months, 1960s, 19th Century, breast cancer, Breast Development, Chemicals In Food, Copenhagen, Danish Study, Environmental Chemicals, Generations, Girls Puberty, junk food, Nine Years, obesity, Phenomenon, Physical Activity, Puberty Girls, Researcher, Teenage Problems, Younger Girls
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