Childhood Obesity Articles
Childhood Obesity Identified as Risk Factor for Early Puberty
By Hugh C. McBride
Talk to enough people about the pressures modern American society places upon its younger members, and you’re bound to hear that time-tested lament: “Today’s kids sure are growing up a lot faster than they used to.”
Usually, a statement like this is little more than a metaphorical commentary about the rapidity with which teens are engaging in “adult” activities (such as substance abuse or sexual activity) or being forced to shed the protective cloak of youthful innocence.
But a series of recent studies have indicated that, for some American children, childhood literally is ending earlier that it once did. Adolescent health experts have noticed that many American girls are reaching puberty at an earlier age than ever before. And though no definitive causes have been identified for this potentially troubling development, one of the more intriguing theories involves a familiar culprit: childhood obesity.
About Early Puberty
Early puberty (or, as it is commonly referred to by medical professionals, precocious puberty) is defined as the onset of adolescence and the development of secondary sexual characteristics in girls younger than age 8 and boys younger than age 9. (The average ages at which puberty “normally” begins are 10 for girls and 12 for boys.)
In addition to growth spurts and emotional changes that are consistent with increased hormone production, precocious puberty is also marked by the development of breasts, menstruation, and ovulation in girls. In boys, signs include a deepening of the voice, facial and pubic hair growth, and the enlargement of the penis and testicles.
Because growth in height stops when puberty ends, children who enter puberty earlier than normal often end up being shorter than their full adult potential, as their musculoskeletal system does not have the chance to fully develop. However, the majority of concerns related to precocious puberty involve the social and emotional aspects of these children’s lives.
Challenges & Dangers
Due to the physical changes that accompany early puberty, children of both sexes may be ridiculed or ostracized by peers because they no longer “fit in,” and may have trouble dealing with feelings such as sexual urges at an age when these issues are not expected to be addressed.
The experience is thought to be especially difficult for girls, who may be embarrassed by early breast enlargement, confused about the onset of menstruation, or placed in situations where their emotional maturity is not consistent with their physical development.
“Even though these girls' bodies are changing, they are still very much young children and emotionally are probably not ready to talk about some of things you might talk to, say, an 11-year-old about," child psychologist Helen Eggers, M.D., said in a March 31, 2000 article on the CNN website.
“Start by talking about the physical changes your daughter is going through, without going into details about having sexual relations,” Eggers advised parents. “Most 8-year-olds haven't even considered dating, let alone having sex.”
Experts also advise parents of children who enter puberty early to be on the lookout for signs of depression, behavior disorders, academic failures, and other signs that they are having difficulty adjusting to their changing bodies.
The Influence of Obesity
Early puberty is believed to be caused by a number of genetic and environmental factors, including abnormalities in the brain or pituitary glands; problems with the ovaries or testicles; and being exposed to substances that contain synthetic estrogen or testosterone. In recent years, the list of risk factors has been expanded to include obesity, especially in girls.
On March 5, 2007, the HealthDay News medical website reported on a University of Michigan study that associated early puberty with obesity in girls:
The study of 354 girls from 10 different regions in the United States found that increased body fat in girls as young as age 3 and large increases in body fat between the age of 3 and the start of first grade were associated with earlier puberty …
“Our finding that increased body fatness is associated with the earlier onset of puberty provides additional evidence that growing rates of obesity among children in this country may be contributing to the trend of early maturation in girls,” study lead author Dr. Joyce Lee, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Michigan, said in a prepared statement.
“What this new study tells us is that parents have to be concerned about obesity even when their children are only 2 or 3 years old,” psychologist Dr. Diana Zuckerman told CBS News the same day the study’s results were announced.
The early onset of puberty, Zuckerman told CBS, portends a range of obstacles to girls’ healthy development. “Girls who develop earlier are more likely to abuse alcohol and drugs, are more likely to be depressed and moody and have problems in school,” she said.
Another Effect of Poor Diet & Limited Exercise
The University of Michigan team’s conclusions are supported by a Cincinnati study that was announced March 3, 2009. According to an article in the University of Cincinnati newspaper, The News Record, a research effort that was led by Dr. Frank M. Biro of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital has identified “environmental factors, genetics, and obesity” as causes of early puberty:
“One of the causes of early puberty,” said Barb Rinto, director of the University of Cincinnati Women’s Center, “is in terms of diet and high fat content.” …
Biro’s research suggested that the predominant Western diet, high in fast food and often prepared out of a box, is followed by hours in inactivity, specifically in front of a television or with a video game.
“This as a mismatch between ‘Stone Age’ genes with ‘Space Age’ circumstances,” Biro said.
“This as a mismatch between ‘Stone Age’ genes with ‘Space Age’ circumstances,” Biro said.
Overcoming the Challenges
Ensuring that a child follows a healthy diet plan and gets and adequate amount of exercise is the ideal manner of avoiding obesity-related early puberty. Some children who struggle with weight from a young age may need professional intervention, which may include enrollment in a residential weight loss program or therapeutic boarding school for students with weight challenges.
If a child who has entered early puberty responds to the resultant stresses and pressures by engaging in substance abuse, developing depression or impaired self-esteem, or experiencing academic frustration, residential therapeutic intervention – which may include a boarding school or wilderness program – may also be beneficial.
