Latest news with #earlypuberty
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
New study reveals startling link between common childhood habits and early puberty: 'This may be an important time period'
New study reveals startling link between common childhood habits and early puberty: 'This may be an important time period' A study has revealed new potential causes for early menstruation, according to a report by CNN. Besides genetics and childhood obesity, there are now links to diet, environmental conditions, and chemical exposure. What's happening? A study published in the Human Reproduction journal has concluded that an inflammatory diet is associated with a 15% higher chance of an earlier age at menarche — aka the first period of a girl's life. A highly inflammatory diet includes processed foods, sugar-laden foods, and a diet that is overall meat-focused. A healthier diet, mostly consisting of plant-based foods, reduced the risk of starting early by 8%. Many had assumed that an early onset period was due to a high body mass index, but it was actually more indicative of a highly inflammatory diet rather than body size. Other relevant factors that can contribute to early periods are exposure to high levels of air pollution and the use of personal care products with endocrine disruptors. The study included data from 7,500 children, aged 9 to 14 years, in the Growing Up Today Study. The data was assessed in 1996 and 2004 and followed up in 2001 and 2008. Why is early puberty important? Starting menstruation early is not just about adding the expenses of menstrual products to your monthly bills. Early periods are associated with cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and diabetes later in life. "An early start to menstruation isn't just inconvenient –– it is a marker for chronic conditions," senior study author Dr. Holly Harris, an associate professor of epidemiology at Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle, told CNN. "This may be an important time period for lowering the risk of chronic diseases that occur in adulthood." What can you do to prevent early puberty? Switching to plant-based foods is a simple change that will benefit children in the long run by fostering healthy, sustainable dietary habits. There are also numerous resources available to help you find beauty products that are safe for children and individuals with allergies. Consider switching to brands that focus on transparency and accessibility over trendy ingredients and influencer promotions. To reduce the risk of air pollution affecting your family, consider installing air filters in your home and encourage indoor play on days when air quality is especially low. How often do you eat plant based meals for dinner? Never Sometimes About half the time Close to always Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
Medscape
28-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Sweeteners and Genetics Linked to Early Puberty Risk
TOPLINE: Sweetener intake, including aspartame and sucralose, was associated with an increased risk for early puberty in children, particularly in those who were genetically predisposed. Sex-specific effects were noted, with sucralose showing a stronger association with early puberty in boys and glycyrrhizin, sucralose, and other sugars in girls. METHODOLOGY: The prevalence of central precocious puberty, characterized by the early onset of secondary sexual characteristics, is increasing, highlighting the need for research into its causes and prevention strategies. Researchers analyzed a cohort of 1407 children from the Taiwan Pubertal Longitudinal Study to assess the effect of sweetener intake and genetic predisposition on the risk for central precocious puberty. Sweetener intake was evaluated using validated questionnaires and urinary biomarkers. Genetic predisposition was quantified using polygenic risk scores derived from 19 single-nucleotide polymorphisms related to central precocious puberty. Central precocious puberty was diagnosed using clinical, hormonal, and imaging criteria. TAKEAWAY: Central precocious puberty was diagnosed in 481 children. Aspartame, glycyrrhizin, sucralose, and added sugars showed a significant association with an increased risk for central precocious puberty, especially in children with a genetic predisposition. The consumption of these sweeteners showed a dose-dependent relationship, with a higher intake increasing the risk for central precocious puberty. No significant interaction effects were found between genetic predisposition and sweetener intake. Sex-specific effects were noted; the consumption of sucralose was associated with a higher risk for central precocious puberty in boys, and the consumption of sucralose, glycyrrhizin, and added sugars was associated with a higher risk in girls. IN PRACTICE: 'The findings indicate that sweetener consumption and genetic predisposition are independently associated with CPP [central precocious puberty] risk. Integrating genetic and dietary assessments could guide prevention strategies for children at heightened risk, mitigating the long-term health impacts of early puberty,' the authors of the study wrote. 'The findings are directly relevant to families, pediatricians, and public health authorities,' the lead author said in a press release. 'They suggest that screening for genetic risk and moderating sweetener intake could help prevent early puberty and its long-term health consequences. This could lead to new dietary guidelines or risk-assessment tools for children, supporting healthier development.' SOURCE: The study was led by Yang-Ching Chen, MD, PhD, Taipei Municipal Wan Fang Hospital and Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. It was presented at ENDO 2025: The Endocrine Society Annual Meeting in San Francisco. LIMITATIONS: No limitations were discussed in the abstract. DISCLOSURES: The authors had no disclosures, and no conflict of interest statements were provided. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Why one mom is trying to delay her daughter's first period — as experts warn of the risks of early puberty
According to studies, girls who get their menstrual cycles at a young age are more susceptible to long-term health problems. As a result, one mom is trying to prevent her young daughter's body from maturing too soon. According to Stat News, over the past 55 years, young girls in the US have been getting their periods earlier and earlier. Nowadays, the average age is 11 years and nine months. As if that age was startling enough, 16% of girls are getting their cycle before they even celebrate their 11th birthday. The concerning part is that, according to the National Library of Medicine, females who start their period at this young age have a 23% higher risk of developing different cancers — like breast, endometrial and ovarian — later on in life. Aside from the increased risk of being diagnosed with serious illnesses down the road — another concern about early puberty is that young girls are forced to endure the emotional and physical toll periods can have before their brains and bodies are fully developed. '…modern teens have to deal with painful periods, the risk of getting pregnant and sometimes actually getting pregnant well before their brains and bodies are actually mature enough,' Elena Bridgers, a mom of two and a wellness and mental health writer, said in a recent Instagram reel. Because of this alarming news, moms like Rebecca Kinderman are trying to delay their daughter's first period by following a holistic lifestyle. 'I believe that if we can delay this part of 'growing up,' especially when their brains are not developed enough to be able to handle everything that they could be exposed to online, we are allowing our girls to stay young for longer,' Kinderman told Newsweek. The 36-year-old posted a viral Instagram reel where she explained her thought process in helping her daughter live a long, healthy life. Believing household toxins and poor diets are contributing factors to early periods, Kinderman stressed in her post that feeding your family whole foods without seed oils and artificial ingredients is major. And in the era of parents raising 'iPad kids,' the mom also stressed the importance of removing kids from their tech devices and encouraging them to get outside and play. And it seems that Kinderman might have a point — especially regarding diets and lifestyle choices. 'I think that that is very reflective of the obesity epidemic that we are seeing,' Aviva Sopher, a professor of pediatrics at Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, told Stat News. 'To me, this is concerning as well, this kind of confluence of obesity and earlier puberty and more irregular cycles,' she said.
