Posted on August 31, 2010

Girls who enter puberty at an earlier age are often at risk for behaviors more appropriate for young adults. Because they are developing adult bodies, adults often treat them as equals instead of as children. Though their bodies are maturing early, their psychological age is still intact.

A new study is raising concern about the ever-younger age in which young girls are hitting puberty. The study was led by Dr. Frank Biro of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and it highlights the trend of puberty ages trending downward.

The study found that about 10 percent of white girls and 23 percent of black girls had begun developing breasts at the age of 7. When these results are compared to a study from 1997, the trend is disturbing. In 1997, 5 percent of white girls and 15 percent of black girls had begun puberty at the age of 7. The results were published in the medical journal Pediatrics.

The study examined 1,200 girls aged 7 and 8 in three U.S. cities: Cincinnati, New York and San Francisco. The examination revealed that about 18 percent of white girls and 43 percent of black girls had entered puberty at age 8. In 1997, only 11 percent of white girls had entered puberty at age 8. The percentage of black girls entering puberty at age 8 stayed the same.

An additional study published in Pediatrics raises additional concerns related to young girls entering puberty at an earlier age. The study, led by Dr. Mildred Maisonet of Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, examined girls in Great Britain, reporting that overweight girls are more likely to enter puberty earlier.

Experts aren’t sure what causes the earlier development of puberty, but Maisonet’s results may be one factor. Additional concerns include chemicals, such as BPA found in plastic, or chemicals found in fertilizers, according to CBS News Medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton.

Young girls who enter puberty before their peers may endure teasing, along with a higher expectation of psychological maturity. There is physical danger as well. Studies have shown that girls who enter puberty early are at a higher risk of developing breast and uterine cancer due to a longer period of time spent menstruating.

Doctors caution that early puberty should not be considered the “new normal.” Parents who notice their children showing signs of puberty at an early age should consult their pediatrician.