Puberty basically is a natural stage of development in kids but in recent years increasing number of Indian girls have experienced it earlier than ever before. This trend is basically considered to be the situation of early puberty which has become a growing concern for the parents. Having the knowledge about the associated aspects in this case is important so that you will be able to determine which of the factors are stressful in which of the factors are not. Puberty is the natural phase in the life of the child when the body and mind will be beginning to mature and usually, they will be developing into young men and women. This will be marking the transition from childhood to adolescence and the average age for puberty in girls in India is approximately 8-13 years. But whenever it happens before eight years it is considered to be the situation of early puberty which typically begins with the development of the breast area followed by the growth of pubic hair and eventually the onset of male masturbation. With all such changes happening too soon it can create physical and emotional challenges for the young girls. So, consulting the doctors at hospital for women in Hyderabad in such cases will be very important and the following are some of the common symptoms related to puberty in girls:
- Development of the breast and appearance of the under-arm hair
- Rapid growth in height
- Consistent problems of acne and oily skin
- The body smells similar to the adults
- Menstruation at an unusually young age before nine years
- Consistent problems with emotional changes and mood swings
If any of the above-mentioned situations are happening very early with your girls then definitely you should consult paediatric doctors as soon as possible including the endocrinologist because such experts will be the ones who will be dealing with the hormonal concerns in children very well. Some of the common reasons why early puberty is becoming much more common in India as suggested by the doctors at women Hospital Hyderabad are justified as follows:
- Childhood obesity: Excessive body fat is one of the most documented risk factors of early puberty and Indian children nowadays specifically in the urban areas are experiencing very high rates of obesity due to poor diet, sedentary lifestyle and overuse of the screens. All such aspects will contribute to poor health as well as early puberty.
- Diet and nutrition concerns: Increasing consumption of processed food items, very high sugar intake and exposure to the hormones in the package met with dairy products will disrupt normal hormonal regulation. Consumption of junk food with refined carbohydrates and sugar beverages will contribute to obesity and hormonal imbalance. So, discussing all such aspects is very important to avoid any problem.
- Hormonal disruption: Significant chemicals found in plastics, cosmetics and packaged food containers will also lead to issues with hormones in the body and all such endocrine-disrupting chemicals will interfere with normal puberty timing and will result in very early puberty
- Genetics and family history: If the mother or relative has already experienced early puberty then there will be a very high chance that the child will be undergoing the same process because genetic factors will play a very significant role in the entire situation.
- Increase of screen time with lack of physical activity: Consistently reducing outdoor gaming and overuse of the screens will disturb the sleeping patterns and will reduce the hormonal levels in the body which are very well known to affect puberty onset. So, this could be a clear reason for early puberty in girls.
- Psychological and environmental stress: Chronic stress whether due to family issues, academic pressure or social issues will influence the hormonal aspects and potentially trigger early puberty. In some rare cases, early puberty will be created due to serious conditions like injury, tumour or problem with the thyroid or ovaries. So being very clear about such conditions and additional symptoms will be very important so that there is no underlying medical condition in the whole process. Consistently remaining in touch with the doctors at the top maternity hospitals in Pune will be recommended in such cases to avoid any issues.
Some of the possible risks and concerns of early puberty are discussed:
- There might be short height as an adult due to early closure of the growth plates
- Consistent problem of increased risk of depression, anxiety and poor self-esteem
- Early exposure to peer pressure, social issues and unwanted attention
- Very high risk of metabolic disease diseases like diabetes and PCOS later in life
- Very great chance of early sexual and behavioural challenges which the girls might face.
In the cases where parents are noticing the signs of early puberty then definitely consulting the paediatric endocrinologist in this particular case will be very important because early diagnosis will be helpful in determining whether treatment is required or not. The best part is that it will be helpful in reducing the long-term complications very easily and suspicion of early puberty will be very well sorted out without any issue. Not all cases of puberty will require medical intervention and in some cases if things are progressing rapidly but naturally then definitely treatment might not be required. So, the lifestyle changes in some of the cases will also be helpful including the consumption of a healthy diet, increased physical activity, counselling and emotional support from professionals so that management of things will be very well done by avoiding exposure to the chemicals.
Hence early puberty is becoming increasingly common among Indian girls due to the influence of lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors but it could be concerning throughout the process which is the main reason that going for early identification and supportive care is important so that you can make a big difference. Parents will be playing a very critical role in remaining observant, encouraging healthy eating habits and seeking timely medical advice whenever required to provide their girls with the best of the facilities at all times.