Puberty Is Beginning Earlier in Girls, So What Can Parents Do?

A few decades ago, doctors were taught that less than 5% of girls should be showing such signs of puberty before age 8 - now studies show 25% of African American girls, 15% Hispanic girls and 10% of Caucasian girls show signs by age 7. Early puberty carries risks for girls' psychological and physical health, sometimes long after they have grown into adult women. It's associated with a higher risk for depression, anxiety, body image issues, eating disorders, the early onset of sexual activity, and substance use (especially alcohol). There are also links to metabolic disorders, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, higher risk later in life for breast cancer and cardiovascular problems. What can parents do? It appears that a really strong, safe family context seems to mitigate all or most of early puberty's short-term risks for adolescents. That's of immense importance for girls who are in early development. Read the complete article at -- http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/puberty-beginning-earlier-girls-so-what-can-parents-do-180953738/