A study done by the Reprogen community of scientists has endorsed the idea that early puberty in girls is linked to obesity. The consortium which includes scientific experts from Europe, Australia and the US scrutinized genetic code extracted from more than 100,000 women and found that around thirty genes are associated with the determination of what age girls reach puberty. In connection, these genes are also linked to fat metabolism and weight regulation.

The report of the study which was published in the journal, Nature Genetics, however, did not answer the question of whether obesity was the direct cause of early puberty or a mere consequence of an unrelated bodily mechanism. It also did not take into account, the part played by environmental issues such as diet and rearing.

Dr. Anna Murray from the Exeter University, who was also involved in the study, said that larger fat deposits in a girl’s body sent signals to the brain to the effect that the body was ready for a reproductive life.

Early puberty poses a huge health risk to those it affects. According to Professor Anthony Swerdlow of the Institute of Cancer Research, there is a higher risk of contracting cancer if one has undergone early puberty. The reason for this is that there is normally a longer lifetime exposure to oestrogen, among other sex hormones.

He therefore, stresses the need for good diet and exercise early on in life as it translates to a lifetime health status
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