Latest news with #HollyHarris
LeMonde
21-05-2025
- Health
- LeMonde
Age at first menstruation influenced by dietary quality
On average, girls experience their first menstruation between the ages of 12 and 13 – a figure that has steadily declined over the past two centuries. A study published on May 6 in the journal Human Reproduction found that the eating habits of pre-adolescent girls could influence this biological milestone, independent of body mass index (BMI) or height, which are already known to affect the age at first menstruation. "We observed [...] that a healthier diet was linked to menstrual periods starting at an older age," said Holly Harris, associate professor at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle who coordinated the study. "As earlier age at menarche is associated with multiple later life outcomes, including higher risk of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and breast cancer, this may be an important period for trying to reduce the risk of these chronic diseases." To conduct this research, scientists examined the eating habits of approximately 7,000 American girls aged 9 to 14 who had not yet gone through puberty when they were recruited for the prospective Growing Up Today Study (GUTS) cohort. On average, they had their first period at age 13.1, consistent with data from the general population. At enrollment and then at regular intervals during the follow-up, participants completed a questionnaire on how often they consumed 132 types of foods and drinks – ranging from never or less than once a month to once or several times a week.
India Today
13-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
Your child's diet could influence when periods begin
The food you eat during childhood could influence when a girl experiences her first period, according to researchers from the University of to the new study, published in the journal Human Reproduction, diets high in inflammatory foods may lead to an earlier onset of menstruation, which in turn is linked to higher risks of chronic diseases in study found that eating healthier foods was linked to a later start of menstruation, while eating more unhealthy, inflammatory foods was linked to an earlier start, no matter the child's weight or Since getting your period earlier can increase the risk of health problems like diabetes, heart disease, and breast cancer later in life, making better food choices during childhood could help reduce these found that girls who consumed more inflammatory foods, such as red and processed meats, refined grains, and sugary drinks, had a 15% greater chance of getting their first period in the following month. Since getting your period earlier can increase the risk of health problems like diabetes, heart disease, and breast cancer later in life, making better food choices during childhood could help reduce these risks. () advertisementIn contrast, those who ate healthier diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, nuts, and legumes had an 8% lower risk."An early first period is not just a milestone, it's a signal for potential long-term health issues like breast cancer, heart disease, and diabetes,' said senior study author Dr. Holly Harris, associate professor of epidemiology at Fred Hutch Cancer Center in study analysed data from over 7,500 children aged 9 to 14 who were part of the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS). Researchers tracked dietary patterns and the age at which menstruation began using two indices: the Alternative Healthy Eating Index and the Empirical Dietary Inflammatory body fat has long been thought to play a central role in triggering early puberty, the study found that the link between diet and early menstruation persisted even after adjusting for body mass index (BMI). While body fat has long been thought to play a central role in triggering early puberty, the study found that the link between diet and early menstruation persisted even after adjusting for body mass index. () This suggests that other aspects of a poor diet, such as its inflammatory nature, could be driving early hormonal factors may also contribute. Previous research points to air pollution and certain personal care products containing endocrine-disrupting chemicals as possible influences on early help reduce risks, the researchers recommended providing children with access to healthier meals, especially through school Reel
Epoch Times
08-05-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
Girls' Diets May Affect the Timing of Their First Period
Girls who eat a healthy diet as children, regardless of their body size, may start their first menstrual period at an older age compared to those who eat less healthy foods, according to a new Based on the results, the types of food eaten by girls during childhood and adolescence, and whether they cause inflammation, may influence the timing of periods, rather than their height and body mass index. The study from University of Washington is the first to examine the connection between specific diets and the age at which periods begin. Recent research has shown that Inflammation a Key Factor Researchers evaluated the diet of over 7,500 girls aged 9 to 14 through questionnaires and analyzed if it was healthy or prone to cause inflammation. The 20 percent of girls with the healthiest diets, as measured by having the highest scores on the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), were 8 percent less likely to start their first period within the next month compared to those with the lowest scores. Conversely, the 20 percent of participants with diets most likely to cause inflammation, as measured by having the highest score for Empirical Dietary Inflammation Pattern (EDIP), were 15 percent more likely to start menstruating in the next month compared to those with the least inflammatory diets. Related Stories 8/24/2016 8/16/2016 The AHEI assigns more points to healthier foods like vegetables, beans, and whole grains, and fewer points to foods like red and processed meats and those containing trans fats and a lot of sodium. The EDIP scores diets based on their potential to cause inflammation. Foods linked to more inflammation include red and processed meat, meat from animal organs, refined grains, and high-energy drinks. Starting periods at an earlier age is with potentially higher risks later in life for conditions including diabetes, obesity, breast cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. 'We observed that these two dietary patterns were associated with age at menarche, indicating that a healthier diet was linked to menstrual periods starting at an older age,' Holly Harris, an associate professor at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle and study lead author, said in a What makes this study particularly significant is that these findings were independent of the girls' body mass index and height—factors previously linked to earlier menstruation. This suggests that food types and their inflammatory effects may play a more important role in menstruation timing than previously understood. Generally, eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fatty fish, nuts, and legumes (polyunsaturated fatty acids), while limiting intake of red and processed meats, refined grains, sugar-sweetened beverages, and added salt, 'benefits everyone regardless of age,' Harris said. 'I think our findings highlight the need for all children and adolescents to have access to healthy meal options, and the importance of school-based breakfasts and lunches being based on evidence-based guidelines,' Harris stated, emphasizing that this age range may be an 'important period' for trying to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Researchers acknowledged study limitations, including the reliance on questionnaire data, which introduces the potential for inaccuracies. Consequently, the researchers were unable to directly account for the influence of body fat. They plan to further investigate how childhood and adolescent diets and body size might relate to the characteristics of menstrual cycles in adulthood. Helping Children Develop Healthy Eating Habits One of the most effective things parents can do is involve their daughters in the food process from 'start to finish,' Jennifer Pallian, a registered dietitian at Foodess, told The Epoch Times. 'This could mean helping plant a few veggies in the garden, choosing produce at the grocery store, or stirring ingredients in the kitchen,' she said. 'When children have a hand in growing or preparing food, they're often more excited to try it.' Pallian emphasized that children learn more from observation than instruction. 'Family meals where kids watch their parents and siblings enjoy a variety of healthy foods are incredibly influential,' she said. Other practical strategies include: Creating a healthy home environment by keeping nutritious foods visible and accessible Making food visually appealing with colorful presentations Establishing consistent meal routines Encouraging children's autonomy in food decisions while avoiding overly restrictive approaches Children are encouraged to serve themselves and be part of food decisions, allowing them to develop a healthy relationship with food, but parents should avoid overly controlling or restrictive approaches, according to Pallian. 'Those tend to backfire and lead to picky eating or power struggles.'
CNN
06-05-2025
- Health
- CNN
Getting the right nutrients in childhood may reduce the risk of early menstruation, study shows
CNN — The foods you pack in your kids' lunch boxes may have an impact on whether they experience their first menstrual cycle too early, according to new research. Eating a more inflammatory diet was associated with a 15% greater chance of kids having their first period in the next month, whereas a healthier diet reduced the risk by 8%, according to a new study published Tuesday in the journal Human Reproduction. An early start to menstruation isn't just inconvenient –– it is a marker for chronic conditions, said senior study author Dr. Holly Harris, associate professor of epidemiology at Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle. And younger generations are starting their periods earlier and taking longer to become regular. An early first period, which is impacted by both genetics and external factors, is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes later in life, Harris said. 'This may be an important time period for lowering risk of chronic diseases that occur in adulthood,' she added. The study relied on data from more than 7,500 children ages 9 to 14 enrolled in the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS). Researchers surveyed the kids in 1996 and 2004 and followed up with them in 2001 and 2008, respectively. Researchers measured diets in two ways: the Alternative Healthy Eating Index, which rates foods and nutrients that predict chronic disease, and the Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Pattern, a dietary index that can assess a diet's ability to affect chronic inflammation. The study used well-designed statistical models to evaluate the connection between the quality of diet and age at which menstruation started, said Dr. Zifan Wang, a research associate at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in the department of environmental health. He was not involved in the research. 'Eating a healthy diet in late childhood and early adolescence is associated with girls having a later first period compared to those consuming a less healthy diet. Importantly, this association was not explained by the impact of diet on body size,' Harris said. The previous understanding was that overeating high calorie foods may impact early menstruation because the accumulation of body fat signals hormones to initiate puberty, Wang said. But the connection was still there even when researchers accounted for body mass index, or BMI, he added. That means childhood obesity was likely not the only factor influencing the connection between early menstruation and diet –– another factor related to unhealthy or inflammatory eating may be contributing, Wang said. 'Other pathways might be possible that are worthy of further investigation,' he said. Many environmental factors influence the age at which menstruation starts, including being exposed to high levels of air pollution and personal care products that may contain chemicals that can disrupt the endocrine system, Wang said. It is difficult to eliminate your own or your child's exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and there aren't clear labeling requirements to tell you which products may risk exposure, Dr. Michael Bloom, professor of global and community health at George Mason University College of Public Health in Fairfax, Virginia, said in a previous article. However, there are reputable online databases available to the public to search for safer personal care products, such as developed by allergists and dermatologists with the Mayo Clinic, and Skin Deep from the Environmental Working Group, said Bloom, who was not involved in the latest study. There are guidelines for the dietary patterns associated with reduction in the risk of early menstruation. In this study, researchers assessed healthy diets as those that included fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, whole grains, and nuts and legumes, Harris said. Those diets in the inflammatory pattern included red and processed meats, refined grains and sugar-sweetened beverages, which include soda, fruit juice and diet soft drinks, she added. 'Our findings highlight the need for all children and adolescents to have access to healthy meal options, and the importance of school-based breakfasts and lunches being based on evidence-based guidelines,' Harris said. Changing the way your child or teen eats may feel like quite a task, but small steps make a difference. 'We know that calories from ultraprocessed foods make up about 70% of a typical teenager's intake,' said Dr. Natalie Muth, a pediatrician and registered dietitian at the WELL Clinic at Children's Primary Care Medical Group in San Diego, in a previous CNN story. 'Any change that can lower intake of things like chips, cookies, and sodas and increase intake of fruits and vegetables is a big win.'
CNN
06-05-2025
- Health
- CNN
Getting the right nutrients in childhood may reduce the risk of early menstruation, study shows
The foods you pack in your kids' lunch boxes may have an impact on whether they experience their first menstrual cycle too early, according to new research. Eating a more inflammatory diet was associated with a 15% greater chance of kids having their first period in the next month, whereas a healthier diet reduced the risk by 8%, according to a new study published Tuesday in the journal Human Reproduction. An early start to menstruation isn't just inconvenient –– it is a marker for chronic conditions, said senior study author Dr. Holly Harris, associate professor of epidemiology at Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle. And younger generations are starting their periods earlier and taking longer to become regular. An early first period, which is impacted by both genetics and external factors, is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes later in life, Harris said. 'This may be an important time period for lowering risk of chronic diseases that occur in adulthood,' she added. The study relied on data from more than 7,500 children ages 9 to 14 enrolled in the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS). Researchers surveyed the kids in 1996 and 2004 and followed up with them in 2001 and 2008, respectively. Researchers measured diets in two ways: the Alternative Healthy Eating Index, which rates foods and nutrients that predict chronic disease, and the Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Pattern, a dietary index that can assess a diet's ability to affect chronic inflammation. The study used well-designed statistical models to evaluate the connection between the quality of diet and age at which menstruation started, said Dr. Zifan Wang, a research associate at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in the department of environmental health. He was not involved in the research. 'Eating a healthy diet in late childhood and early adolescence is associated with girls having a later first period compared to those consuming a less healthy diet. Importantly, this association was not explained by the impact of diet on body size,' Harris said. The previous understanding was that overeating high calorie foods may impact early menstruation because the accumulation of body fat signals hormones to initiate puberty, Wang said. But the connection was still there even when researchers accounted for body mass index, or BMI, he added. That means childhood obesity was likely not the only factor influencing the connection between early menstruation and diet –– another factor related to unhealthy or inflammatory eating may be contributing, Wang said. 'Other pathways might be possible that are worthy of further investigation,' he said. Many environmental factors influence the age at which menstruation starts, including being exposed to high levels of air pollution and personal care products that may contain chemicals that can disrupt the endocrine system, Wang said. It is difficult to eliminate your own or your child's exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and there aren't clear labeling requirements to tell you which products may risk exposure, Dr. Michael Bloom, professor of global and community health at George Mason University College of Public Health in Fairfax, Virginia, said in a previous article. However, there are reputable online databases available to the public to search for safer personal care products, such as developed by allergists and dermatologists with the Mayo Clinic, and Skin Deep from the Environmental Working Group, said Bloom, who was not involved in the latest study. There are guidelines for the dietary patterns associated with reduction in the risk of early menstruation. In this study, researchers assessed healthy diets as those that included fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, whole grains, and nuts and legumes, Harris said. Those diets in the inflammatory pattern included red and processed meats, refined grains and sugar-sweetened beverages, which include soda, fruit juice and diet soft drinks, she added. 'Our findings highlight the need for all children and adolescents to have access to healthy meal options, and the importance of school-based breakfasts and lunches being based on evidence-based guidelines,' Harris said. Changing the way your child or teen eats may feel like quite a task, but small steps make a difference. 'We know that calories from ultraprocessed foods make up about 70% of a typical teenager's intake,' said Dr. Natalie Muth, a pediatrician and registered dietitian at the WELL Clinic at Children's Primary Care Medical Group in San Diego, in a previous CNN story. 'Any change that can lower intake of things like chips, cookies, and sodas and increase intake of fruits and vegetables is a big win.'
