The Problem Girls get their first periods today, on average, a few months earlier than did girls 40 years ago, but they get their breasts one to two years earlier. Over the course of a few decades, the childhoods of U.S. girls have been significantly shortened. What does this mean for girls today and their health in the future? The Breast Cancer Fund commissioned ecologist and author Sandra Steingraber to write The Falling Age of Puberty — the first comprehensive review of the literature on the timing of puberty — to help us better understand this phenomenon so we can protect our daughters’ health.
The Problem
Girls get their first periods today, on average, a few months earlier than did girls 40 years ago, but they get their breasts one to two years earlier. Over the course of a few decades, the childhoods of U.S. girls have been significantly shortened.
What does this mean for girls today and their health in the future?
!ADVERTISEMENT!
The Breast Cancer Fund commissioned ecologist and author Sandra Steingraber to write The Falling Age of Puberty — the first comprehensive review of the literature on the timing of puberty — to help us better understand this phenomenon so we can protect our daughters’ health.
What Does Breast Cancer Have to Do With Early Puberty?
We know that early puberty is a known risk factor for breast cancer and other mental and physical health problems.
Possible Contributing Factors to Early Puberty
Like breast cancer, early puberty is influenced by a combination of factors, including obesity, environmental chemicals, inactivity, premature birth, formula feeding and
Key Findings From the Report
Our children are not adequately protected from environmental chemical exposures, particularly minority and low-income girls. We must work together to change that.
What We Can Do About the Falling Age of Puberty
Both Dr. Steingraber and the Breast Cancer Fund have made recommendations for scientific, political and personal action. More »
What You Can Do Personally and Politically
We hope you’ll join us in being part of the solution.
The production of this report was made possible through generous support from the Heinz Endowments and the Jenifer Altman Foundation.
For more information: http://www.breastcancerfund.org/
