The influence of diet and lifestyle on precocious puberty in males and females.
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"Male and female pubertal onset age has decreased over the past 150 years and this trend has been associated with diet and lifestyle. Obesity in females has been associated with early menarche age, as well as general increased adult body mass index (BMI). An unhealthy diet leads to precocious puberty in males. However, obesity is thought to lead to delayed growth in males. This can lead to health concerns later in life. Females have an increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, breast cancer, and endometrial cancer as well as mental health repercussions such as depression and antisocial behavior. Males have an increased risk of testicular cancer, shorter stature, substance abuse, and depression. As 18.5% of American children suffer from obesity, it is important to encourage children to exercise and inform parents of the risks of precocious puberty. In order to inform the public of this issue, an event called “Hike for Your Health” was initiated. Families would exercise and then record their time spent exercising in a GoogleSheets form. Although the scope of the project was limited, it accomplished its goal of informing families of the risks of precocious puberty and was successful at having participating families undergo physical activity."