Hi Everyone – Today I want to discuss an alarming trend that is happening with the health of young children… “Precocious Puberty”. Poor diet and obesity in adolescents is forcing them into puberty at a very early age. Growing levels of obesity are seeing some children start puberty as young as seven, studies show.
Experts say the extra fat tissue is encouraging young bodies to produce hormones, which kick start sexual changes. Researchers in the U.S. found that one in ten girls aged seven had developed breast tissue, one of the first signs of puberty. Doctors in Britain backed up the research, saying they have treated girls of seven and eight with puberty problems. They warn that the early exposure to estrogen has serious health implications because it puts the girls more at risk of breast cancer and heart disease. They are also more likely to be bullied and could be encouraged into sexual relationships by teenage boys who take them to be a few years older.
As for young boys, signs include a deepening of the voice, facial and pubic hair growth, the enlargement of the penis & testicles and in some cases, enlarged breast tissue (gynecomastia).
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.
I urge any of you whose children may match this profile to help them! Encourage healthy eating habits, support them with lots of love & encouragement and get them off the couch and into a healthy lifestyle.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need any direction or encouragement.
Thank You!
-Diana
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