Early Puberty in Girls Linked to Breast Cancer, Depression

Early puberty in girls has become a growing concern throughout the developed world, and multiple studies indicate that it has associated health risks. The early onset of female puberty has been linked with elevated risk of breast cancer, heart disease, depression, and even alcoholic intake, according to a recent article in The Atlantic.

The story summarized findings documented by pediatric endocrinologist Louise Greenspan in her book entitled"The New Puberty: How to Navigate Early Development in Today's Girls." Greenspan took part in a longitudinal study that tracked some 1,200 preteen girls over the course of seven years to observe how early puberty arrived for them.

While the arrival of puberty is widely thought to be marked by a girl's initial experience of menstruation, the study relied on a more scientifically accurate means of assessment: the first sign of breast development. Using that measure, the researchers documented the median age of puberty onset by race.

The lowest median found was 8.8 years for African American girls, while numbers ranged from 9.3 to 9.7 years for the other races. As these are median ages, the research suggests that a significant number of preteens are reaching puberty at eight years old or earlier.

This unsettling trend has given rise to varied attempts to discover what is causing female puberty to arrive sooner. A previous article on this site highlighted a scientific report that pointed to environmental triggers, such as exposure to chemicals that affect the body's hormone levels.

Other studies have focused on the health risk factors associated with early puberty. An article in the journal Pediatrics noted a link between early puberty in girls and teenage depression. The Atlantic story offered a rundown of the various heightened risks, with included heart disease, breast cancer, and the use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs.