In a world where our children seem to turn into mini-adults in the blink of an eye, the last thing parents want to worry about are the real risks posed as girls start puberty at ever younger ages. They are literally running out of time to be children. As the mother of a teenage daughter I was startled to read a report published in April of 2011 about the dramatic increase in girls beginning puberty by age 7 – yes, seven years old!
In America, 10% of white girls begin developing breasts by age 7, while an astonishing 23% of black girls show signs of puberty by that age – an age when most of us think these young girls should only be worried about skipping rope, playing with toys, and giggling at tea parties. The study also reported that within just the last 30 years, childhoods free of pubescence have decreased by a year and a half. What are we doing to our children?
What causes early puberty in girls?
While there is no single, distinct answer, all leads point to combinations of obesity, societal influences, and hormone-like chemicals in our environments. Obesity seems to play the largest role, raising key hormone levels like insulin and leptin (a hormone derived from fat cells). As our cultures become less dependent on physical work and less encouraging of children playing outside and getting lots of exercise, the obesity epidemic increases. Chemicals in substances like pesticides, plastics, and perfumes all interfere with the natural hormone balances. A common chemical in hard plastics, BPA, has been shown to cause early puberty in animals, but studies are inconclusive about the effects on humans. It is frightening, though, to know that more than 90% of Americans have BPA in their systems. Other potential risk factors for early onset puberty include stress in families, premature birth, and good old genetics.
How worried should parents be about early puberty?
Some people argue that puberty is the natural timing our bodies have. In world history, young girls who lived in communities where there was poor nutrition began their menstruation cycles later, supposedly because it was the natural signals from their bodies to hold off on puberty until a healthier pregnancy could be realized. But puberty at age 7 – that is really babies having babies.
Studies show that as girls reach puberty at earlier and earlier ages, they are at higher risks for depression, chemical abuse, and eating disorders. Kids can be cruel, and being the one in your class who wears a bra first is not the kind of statement that is always easy. Links have also been found between early puberty and higher risks of breast and uterine cancers due to the increased exposure to estrogen.
What can we do about all of this?
When we look at the causes, it is obvious that there are some things we just can’t change, like genetics and many premature births. Other things on that list, however, we can at least try to combat. Obesity in our children seems to always top the list of concerns. Ensuring that our kids grow up healthy and strong will not only decrease their risks for early puberty, but increase so many other healthful benefits. Encouraging outdoor play, time away from televisions and video games, and good eating habits might seem like no brainers, but they really can be undervalued in our busy lives. We can also look for ways to use as many chemical free products as possible, especially in our homes and around our children (I know – easier said than done). Probably most of all, if we see our girls showing the signs of early puberty (body odor and hair, breast buds, or menstruation), we need to be supportive and seek professional advice so we can help them navigate this road.
