Growing Up Too Fast: Early Onset Of Puberty Can Be Physically And Emotionally Risky

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By Mia Bolaris-Forget

Little girls can hardly wait to blossom into beautiful young ladies and women....and now it seems their daydreams are coming true.

According to recent research American girls are reaching puberty earlier than ever before....and this early onset of puberty places them at higher risk for behavioral problems in adolescence and for breast cancer as adults.

The study showed that about 15% or over 12,000 girls showed signs of breast development as early as age 7 with the median age of breast development dropping from 10.9 years of age back in 1991 to 9.9 years old in 2006.

The study however does not give a reason or explanation as to why young girls are reaching puberty earlier, but it did reveal that those who were heavier or had a higher body-mass index were more likely to go through early onset of puberty.

According to expert one third of all children can be considered overweight and they note that the early onset of puberty could in fact be due to the obesity epidemic. In addition, many researchers are concerned about hormone-disrupting chemicals found in the environment that may be affecting growth, development and puberty.

The chemicals of most concern include pesticides used in farms and lawns, flame retardant found in furniture and electronics, and bisphenol A, or BPA, an estrogen-like ingredient prevalent in plastic bottles and linings of metal food and beverage cans. In fact, researchers are collecting blood and urine samples from young girls to better analyze their exposure to toxins.

In addition, animal and human studies show that there may also be a certain correlation between certain chemicals and male sexual development.

According to research, herbicide atrazine has been shown to chemically "castrate" some male frogs and turn others into females able to lay eggs.

Furthermore, a study conducted in 2008 revealed that infant boys are more likely to undergo genital changes including undescended testicles and smaller penises if exposed before birth to high levels of phthalates, hormone-disrupting chemicals found in medical tubing, vinyl, and other products.

Still, the chemical industry claims these chemicals and products are safe and notes that there has never been any absolute evidence proving them harmful to humans.

However, reaching puberty early can not only be physically problematic but emotionally problematic as well according to experts. They note that early puberty can be confusing and distressing to a young person not ready for it.

Experts also add that early puberty may also boost the odds of girls developing low self-esteem, eating disorders and depression. They note that girls who reach puberty earlier are more likely to attempt suicide and to engage in sexual activity at a younger age. As adults, these women are at higher risk for breast and endometrial cancers, potentially because they have experienced more exposure to estrogen.