Posted on 08/09/2010 11:26:00 AM PDT by Ben Mugged
A US study shows that almost one in four black girls and one in 10 white girls had developed breasts by the age of seven.
The findings are the latest in a string of studies showing that girls in the US are reaching puberty sooner, with implications both for the social and emotional wellbeing of girls as well as for their physical health in later life. Early maturation has been shown to cause low self-esteem and doubts about body image, as well as greater rates of eating problems, depression and attempted suicide.
It is linked to earlier sexual experiences, and later on carries greater risks of breast cancer.
The researchers found that at the age of seven 23.4% of black girls, 14.9% of Hispanics and 10.4% of white girls had developed breasts.
At 8 those proportions had risen further to 42.9%, 30.9% and 18.3% respectively.
A similar survey completed in 1997 found the proportion of white girls who had developed breasts by seven was 5% — half of what it is today.
The proportion of black girls in that bracket has also shot up in the past decade, from 15% in 1997 to 23% today.
Studies have shown that in the 1700s girls began menstruation on average at about age 17-18, though that might be as much to do with widespread malnutrition as with other factors.
Experts point to several possible causes of the declining age of puberty.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
It’s due to global warming.
When I was in 6th grade the girls got separated out for puberty class, so 12 apparently was the norm in the 70s.
It’s Bush’s fault.
We have on cousin who started t 8 back in the early 1980’s and most all of us were early but back then early was between 10-12.I wonder if all of the birth control hormones they say is in our water is causing this?
I think they forgot non-fermented soy, which is used here, but fermented soy is used in asia.
eh, eh - you said “bush” in puberty thread!
I thought that this was usually an earmark of primitive cultures. The short lifespans requiring earlier reproduction.
Just keep the kids away from Japan and public school teachers and you’ve won half the battle.
Since early puberty restricts the potential for vertical growth, I would imagine we will start seeing a whole lot more mini-sized women in the next decade or two.
Probably more related to milk hormones, etc.
Women and minorities hardest hit....
Or it could just be a couple generations of THIS crap.
I am not a bio-scientist and have no proof of my guess - but I think our media culture where kids are getting exposed to all forms of sexuality, both through media and even in the class rooms, is probably helping them mature sexually prematurely. Afterall, all growth is controlled by the amount of hormones, and chemicals generated inside the body, which is probably related to thoughts generated inside the mind.
Obesity is also a factor - chubby girls tend to start earlier than thin girls do. In fact athletic, thin girls are often the last.
What about the birth rates for girls by age for the various ethnic groups? As kids have kids earlier & earlier, perhaps the proclivity gets passed down now that the generational gap is shortened...
The daughter of some friends of ours just had her first period last month. She just turned 9 in March.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.