eChipmunks - What do you think causes early puberty?

What do you think causes early puberty?

After asking a question about this, i'm curious about it.. I've came up with these things so far that "may" cause it! I've heard of all of these possible causes except for the "media factor"...I've never actually "heard" of soy based formula causing it, but I do know that soy has a type of estrogen in it, and that some women use it to off set symptoms of menopause.. I also had a friend who was taking it because she was diabetic, and it make her endometriosis worse because of the estrogen in it.. What are your thoughts on this? Possible Causes of Early Puberty Note to parents: because early puberty can be caused by some serious conditions, including certain types of brain tumors and thyroid diseases, it is important to consult a doctor if you are concerned about your daughter's development, especially if you have no family history of early puberty. Genetic factors. If a girl's mother, sisters, and other female relatives experienced early puberty, the chances are very strong she will too. Obesity. As the rate of childhood obesity has exploded, so has the rate of precocious puberty. This is one of the most widely accepted theories about the rise in early puberty rates. Estrogen and leptin, two important hormones in puberty, are produced by fat cells, and many researchers believe puberty in girls is triggered when the body reaches a certain percentage of fat, in combination with other factors. This is one reason many competitive youth athletes experience later puberty than their peers. Xenoestrogens. Xenoestrogens are man-made compounds that mimic the behavior of natural estrogen in the body. They occur in everything from plastic baby bottles and food storage containers to shampoo, cosmetics, and sunscreen to pesticides and insecticides used in residential and agricultural pest control to growth hormones fed to the animals that produce our meat, milk and eggs to the water we bathe in. Some shampoos targeted at the African-American community even advertise their estrogen content. Many scientists believe xenoestrogens are a major contributing factor to the epidemic of precocious puberty; others believe they are only minor contributors. Soy-based infant formula. Soy has one of the highest concentrations of phytoestrogens, which are naturally occurring plant estrogens. In adults, phytoestrogens are generally considered neutral or even beneficial, especially from dietary sources. However, some researchers feel that the concentration of phytoestrogen in soy infant formulas may reach dangerous levels because these formulas are the only or primary source of nourishment for so long. These researchers claim that infants fed soy formula receive the estrogen equivalent of five birth control pills per day (based on body weight). About 25% of infants in the United States are fed soy-based formulas. Sexualized television and media. In one controversial theory, some researchers claim that exposure to sexualized media may be contributing to the increase in cases of early puberty. It is clear that visual stimuli affect the brain and body chemistry. For example, a photograph of a delicious looking meal causes people to salivate. However, the degree to which media depictions of sex could affect brain and body chemistry is still extremely uncertain and highly controversial. Get me out... that would include the Xenoestrogens in case you did not read what was put down!

Public Comments

I've always thought it was the hormones in the milk and steroids in meat. Some of those things like like the soy formula are new to me but who knows. Something is causing it other than genetics.
Media is correct, MTV is not a good channel to watch.
you didnt mention the hormone fed farm animals that americans scarf down at fast food venues
Well, the two little girls I know that got their periods at age 10 were both breast fed. Their mother didn't develop or get her period till age 13. I'm not sure what causes it, but some believe it is the hormones in milk and meats.
oh goody i get to answer this w/the masses rather than after the fact. okay - i think that genes play a role/family history. i also very much believe the hormones that they give the cows that produce our milk is to blame. could i be wrong - yup w/out a doubt. i do however believe that. i dont like all of the "extra" stuff they give those cows to make them produce more milk. i dont think its safe. i also know that it hasn't been going on since the beginning of time either, it is a newer thing - that could mean last 20 years but still. its is newer.
Better overall nutrition.
I've heard it was from all the growth hormones they give the animals killed for meat. The kids eat the meat and the harm ones are still there and it may be in the milk as well!
i agree that all of the above is probably influencing early puberty. it can also be the result of evolution. people are having children younger and younger before they are ready. if enough people do this over time, we adapt (go through puberty early to ready the body for childbirth). the same hypothesis applies to why giraffes use to all have necks of different sizes but the ones with the long necks survived (could reach the plants to eat) as well as why a person can lose their sight by being deprived of light for a long period of time.
I am not sure about this... In my early years I spent several months in and Africa country called Eritrea, and the girls there still started puberty at the same age, between 10 -13. They hardly ever see a TV and the meat and milk is mostly from their own home grown goats. The reason why I knew about their early age is because once a girl has her period that means she can be married off. Pregnant 13 year old brides was common. Very interesting read tho....
I'd believe it was between the first three. Biggest culprit seems to be the phytoestrogens - with some people thinking soy is fine but dairy is evil. Some soy may be good, but not when boys are growing breasts... Also, there's the matter of the estrogen from birth control pills - and other medications people take - getting through to water systems. Most worrisome are the ones people wouldn't think twice about - like the shampoos.
We have a very estrous background meaning environment, filled with what we know as endocrine disruptor. These show up in plastic products like polyethylene, poly carbonate and most of our plastic products right to our credit cards. Haha! Ethylene which is the base of most plastics is a plant hormone, and is used for the maturing process of fruit and vegetables in nature by the plants themselves. In green houses, ethylene gas is used to bring the tomatoes to maturing and ripening for selling vine ripened tomatoes, and they are great! In contact in the environment, like being heated, or certain enzymes or peptides, polyethylene breaks molecular bonding and gives off an artificial estrogen which the body responds to as true estrogen. The body doesn't know the difference because these components are so close. We start out with polyethylene baby bottle liners, which you should never microwave heat for that very reason...only water warm them! We have our Tupper wear and plastic containers for our foods and left overs, our soft drinks, and water, and ketchup, milk, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese...the list goes on......Never heat or reheat foods in polyethylene containers, especially in the microwave. Ethylene glycol is another big artificial estrogen releaser that the body responds to like real estrogen. Here we have car antifreeze, and latex paints which have ethylene glycol as the primary liquid base. These are all Xenoestrogens. Male painters who breath the fumes from latex paint are often impotent for a week or more following a latex paint job if they don't wear a breathing mask with a hydrocarbon vapor cartridge to block the fumes. Estrogen is also a growth hormone for growing taller and overall body size. Girls take off and grow taller sooner in puberty because of the growth aspect of estrogen. We have taller teens and bigger overall body bone in many places and taller early 20's bunch than b4 like myself. The male body deals with estrogen by producing Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which is 3times stronger than regular free testosterone, to counter the estrogen, and so early puberty in males is the outcome as well. You add this huge factor to soy products, PMU farms for birth control pills, which are now spaced by the government because of the estrogen background caused by them and it becomes something big. Throw growth hormones into milk and meats. Add the Medea which is geared toward thinking sex, to which the endocrine glands in the body respond, and it all adds up to kids starting puberty now at 8 and 9 years old instead of 14 or 15 like it was in my grand parents days. It even shows up different now between city and farm kids where farm kids get fresh and city kids get treated. As this is artificial and not what we call evolution, we cannot adapt, and our intellect and education cannot catch up with an earlier body which can give offspring to a child who has no opportunity to learn life skills or even a background to make for getting self supporting work let alone child supporting income. It doesn't get better! Me! :- )