Researchers Examine Causes Of Early Female Puberty.

pediatric endocrinologist Louise Greenspan, MD, and Julianna Deardorff, PhD, an associate professor at the University of California-Berkeley, the authors of “The New Puberty: How to Navigate Early Development in Today’s Girls,” write an op-ed about their research into early female puberty, which they assert occurs because of obesity and family stress. Obesity may contribute to early breast development because fat cells secrete estrogen. The researchers cite a study from the Harvard School of Public Health, which “suggested that girls who drank more sodas were also more likely to reach puberty early, regardless of whether they were overweight.” They call for more research into the effects of chemicals in flame retardants and plastics on puberty. To prevent early puberty, which can lead to depression, eating disorders, and breast cancer, the researchers suggest mothers breast-feed and maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy. Eating soy and “providing a warm emotional environment at home” may also delay puberty. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/05/opinion/what-causes-girls-to-enter-puberty-early.html?ref=opinion&_r=0