More and more children are entering puberty early

Especially girls affected: puberty starts with many children always earlier

Research has shown that children get into puberty earlier and earlier. Especially in girls, this phenomenon is observed. With them, the body often begins to change already in the early elementary school age. The cause could possibly be certain environmental toxins.

Breast development starts one year earlier

Girls are getting into puberty earlier and earlier. This has been shown in an older Danish study. The scientific study, which involved 1,000 girls, found that breast development today starts on average one year earlier than it did 20 years ago - around the age of nine and ten months. According to the study authors, the study results underscore the long-term trend that the average age at which girls enter puberty has fallen sharply. In the 19th century, it was therefore still around 15 years.

Children are entering puberty much earlier today than they were just a few decades ago. Especially in girls, this phenomenon has been documented in scientific studies. (Image: Syda Productions / gotolia.com)

Serious consequences for physical and emotional health

Although some experts point out that early puberty is not pathological, there is evidence that it carries health risks.

British scientists, for example, found that early adolescent girls become more likely to become obese as adults.

And US researchers reported a study that provided evidence that early puberty in girls may be a warning sign of later depression.

The Danish experts also addressed the serious consequences for the physical and emotional health of girls through early puberty.

So there is the fear that sufferers have a higher risk of breast cancer and heart disease, as they are much more exposed to the sex hormone estrogen.

And: "If girls mature early, they get early adolescent problems and are later more susceptible to disease," said study lead dr. Anders Juul from the Copenhagen University Hospital, according to a report by the British newspaper "Daily Mail".

"We should worry about it, regardless of what the reasons might be," said the expert.

"It is a clear sign that something is affecting our children; be it fast food, environmental chemicals or lack of physical activity. "

Phenomenon could have different causes

Richard Stanhope, an expert in hormone disorders, points out further issues in the Daily Mail:

"All the things that we experience as teenagers are hard enough to deal with, but if they happen at ten or eleven, they are much worse."

These children also have a "much higher risk of being sexually abused," according to the expert.

As reported in the paper, scientists suggest that the phenomenon of earlier puberty may also be due to rising obesity and dietary changes.

Also lack of exercise and junk food could play a role.

Also suspected is the plasticizer bisphenol A (BPA), which is often present in plastic articles and in the lining of canned food and beverage cans.

Dr. Juul tested the girls' blood and urine samples to determine if a compound could be detected.

Harmful chemical

Previous research has shown that bisphenol A threatens our health.

According to experts, the substance can damage nerves and even cause cancer.

In addition, BPA should have an effect on the hormone balance. Maybe the chemical also triggers food allergies.

In addition, studies suggest a link between increased BPA levels in the blood and diabetes, cardiovascular problems, lack of libido or even obesity.

Voice break at 12 years old

The phenomenon of ever earlier puberty is not only observed in girls. Even boys are affected, as Richard Sharpe of the "Medical Research Council" in Edinburgh explained.

According to the scientist, it has been established that in school choirs more and more boys drop out at the age of 12 or 13 - because they already have their voice broken at this age. (Ad)