April 28, 2024

Pandemic’s Hidden Impact: New Study Uncovers Startling Rise in Girls Entering Puberty Early

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a visible rise in the number of girls identified with precocious adolescence, a condition where kids grow physically at an earlier age. Ladies diagnosed during this duration had higher BMIs and considerably lowered physical activity. According to a recent research study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society, the number of ladies identified with precocious adolescence rose substantially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Precocious adolescence is a condition where children begin to undergo physical modifications into adulthood too soon.

The scientists examined the incidence of precocious adolescence before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in 133 women from Italy. They also analyzed the possible relationship in between COVID-19 and pandemic-related way of life changes.
They discovered 72 cases of precocious puberty before the COVID-19 pandemic (January 2016-March 2020) and 61 cases between March 2020 and June 2021. That corresponds to 4 brand-new cases each month.
The scientists also found girls detected with precocious puberty throughout the COVID-19 pandemic tended to have higher body mass index (BMI) scores than women who did not. These women invested approximately 2 hours per day using electronic devices, and 88.5% of them stopped any physical activity.
Underlying Causes and Study Contributors
” The role of tension, social isolation, increased disputes between moms and dads, economic status, and the increased use of hand and surface sanitizers represent potentially more interesting hypotheses as to why early adolescence is increasing in youth,” Maghnie said. “Although, the consequence of biological adjustment can not be entirely dismissed.”
Recommendation: “Precocious Puberty Diagnoses Spike, COVID-19 Pandemic, and Body Mass Index: Findings From a 4-year Study” by Daniela Fava, Carlotta Pepino, Valentina Tosto, Roberto Gastaldi, Alessia Pepe, Dalila Paoloni, Marina Francesca Strati, Alessia Angelelli, Andrea Calandrino, Caterina Tedesco, Tiziana Camia, Anna Elsa Maria Allegri, Giuseppa Patti, Emilio Casalini, Marta Bassi, Maria Grazia Calevo, Flavia Napoli and Mohamad Maghnie, 03 August 2023, Journal of the Endocrine Society.DOI: 10.1210/ jendso/bvad094.
The other authors of this study are Daniela Fava, Tiziana Camia, Giuseppa Patti and Flavia Napoli of the University of Genoa and the Giannina Gaslini Institute; Carlotta Pepino, Alessia Pepe, Dalila Paoloni, Marina Francesca Strati, Alessia Angelelli, Andrea Calandrino, Emilio Casalini, and Marta Bassi of the University of Genoa in Genoa, Italy; Valentina Tosto of the Giannina Gaslini Institute and the University of Perugia Medical School in Perugia, Italy; and Roberto Gastaldi, Caterina Tedesco, Anna Elsa, Maria Allegri and Maria Grazia Calevo of the Giannina Gaslini Institute.
The research study got funding from the Ministry of Health of Italy.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a noticeable increase in the number of girls identified with precocious adolescence, a condition where kids mature physically at an earlier age. Scientists associate this to increased screen time, less exercise, and other way of life modifications brought on by the pandemic. Furthermore, women identified throughout this period had higher BMIs and considerably lowered exercise. Different aspects, including tension, social isolation, and even frequent usage of sanitizers, could further explain this trend.
Danger factors may include unhealthy pandemic-related way of life modifications.
According to a current study released in the Journal of the Endocrine Society, the number of ladies diagnosed with precocious puberty increased considerably throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The boost has been credited to possible risk aspects like extended screen time and reduced physical activity. Precocious the age of puberty is a condition where children start to undergo physical modifications into their adult years too soon.
For girls, this means experiencing modifications like breast buds before the age of 8. There have actually been links between COVID-19 and endocrine-related conditions such as obesity, a recognized factor that can lead to early puberty in women.
Factors Contributing to Early Puberty
” Our research study confirms the increase in precocious adolescence medical diagnoses throughout COVID-19 and recognizes contributing elements such as bad consuming and workout habits, excessive screen time, and impaired sleep,” said study author Mohamad Maghnie, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Genoa and the Giannina Gaslini Institute in Genoa, Italy. “We discovered an increase in weight gain among women detected with precocious adolescence during the pandemic, and quick boost in body weight is associated with advanced pubertal development.”