{"id":138335,"date":"2025-10-22T13:19:19","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T13:19:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/138335\/"},"modified":"2025-10-22T13:19:19","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T13:19:19","slug":"when-puberty-starts-too-soon-how-genes-and-lifestyle-collide-in-early-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/138335\/","title":{"rendered":"When puberty starts too soon: How genes and lifestyle collide in early development"},"content":{"rendered":"

OBESITY, diet, and endocrine disruptors act as accelerators on normal timing, while genetic causes are more direct \u2014 an intrinsic \u2018switch\u2019 that cannot be modified, says an expert.<\/p>\n

According to Prince Court Medical Centre Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist Dr Maiza Tusimin, genetics play a strong role in true central precocious puberty.<\/p>\n

\u201cMutations in genes like makorin ring finger protein 3 (MKRN3) and delta-like-non-canonical Notch ligand 1 (DLK1) can directly trigger early Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal axis (HPG) activation, often in familial cases,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

She added that unlike environmental or lifestyle factors such as obesity, diet and endocrine disruptors, which act as accelerators on normal puberty timing.<\/p>\n

Dr Maiza said that genetic causes are more direct, functioning as intrinsic \u201cswitches\u201d that override the body\u2019s normal control mechanisms.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor families with a genetic predisposition, the focus should be on early monitoring, supportive care and a holistic approach rather than prevention, since the genetic \u2018switch\u2019 cannot be modified,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

What parents can do<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr Maiza advised that parents and healthcare providers take proactive but calm steps to manage early development.<\/p>\n

\u201cParents should track growth and pubertal signs closely so any early activation is detected quickly,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She recommended bone age and hormonal testing to guide whether medical intervention is needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn some cases, GnRH analogues, medications that delay puberty progression can be considered to help preserve final adult height and reduce complications,\u201d she shared.<\/p>\n

Beyond medical care, Dr Maiza emphasised the need to support emotional well-being.<\/p>\n

\u201cEarly puberty often brings psychosocial stress,\u201d she said, adding that simple lifestyle choices such as maintaining a balanced diet, encouraging physical activity and avoiding obesity can help prevent additional risks.<\/p>\n

When lifestyle fuels early puberty<\/strong><\/p>\n

While genetic causes are fixed, environmental factors still play a significant role in accelerating puberty in children who are otherwise healthy.<\/p>\n

\u201cPrecocious puberty in girls is influenced by many factors, but the most consistent evidence points to childhood obesity and nutrition rather than chemicals alone,\u201d Dr Maiza said.<\/p>\n

She noted that while studies suggest endocrine-disrupting chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates may contribute, the science is \u201cstill evolving and not conclusive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/p>\n

Photo for illustrative purposes only. – Photo edited in CANVA<\/p>\n

Her advice to parents: don\u2019t panic or make drastic lifestyle changes.<\/p>\n

\u201cParents don\u2019t need to overhaul their lives. Instead, focus on what\u2019s proven like maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet and activity and practising simple precautions such as limiting plastic use with hot foods and washing fruits and vegetables,\u201d she advised.<\/p>\n

She added that regular medical check-ups remain key for ensuring early detection and managing any underlying issues.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost importantly, regular check-ups allow doctors to track growth and rule out rare but serious causes, ensuring children are supported without unnecessary fear,\u201d she reminded.<\/p>\n

Growing up too fast and its hidden costs<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr Maiza explained that early puberty affects far more than appearance.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen a girl enters puberty earlier than average, her body starts producing oestrogen sooner, which speeds up both growth and bone maturation,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She emphasised that at first, these girls often look taller than their peers because their growth spurt comes earlier.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut the catch is that oestrogen also causes the growth plates in the bones to close earlier than normal,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

That means while they appear taller during childhood, Dr Maiza said, adding that they may actually end up shorter as adults.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom my perspective as a gynaecologist, this matters not just for stature but also for overall health and confidence,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She highlighted that beyond physical effects, early puberty can also impact mental health, bringing challenges such as low self-esteem, social anxiety and difficulty fitting in among peers who are still in earlier stages of development.<\/p>\n

Dr Maiza\u2019s message is clear: while genetics can\u2019t be changed, awareness, support, and healthy daily habits can make a world of difference.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"OBESITY, diet, and endocrine disruptors act as accelerators on normal timing, while genetic causes are more direct \u2014…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":138336,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[272],"tags":[81985,22120,81983,81982,18,71516,458,19,17,11,3521,81981,81984,133,81979,81980],"class_list":{"0":"post-138335","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-genetics","8":"tag-breast-cancer-risk","9":"tag-childhood-obesity","10":"tag-dr-maiza-tusimin","11":"tag-early-puberty","12":"tag-eire","13":"tag-emotional","14":"tag-genetics","15":"tag-ie","16":"tag-ireland","17":"tag-latest-news","18":"tag-lifestyle","19":"tag-precocious-puberty","20":"tag-prince-court-medical-centre","21":"tag-science","22":"tag-sinar-daily","23":"tag-sinar-online"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138335","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=138335"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138335\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/138336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=138335"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=138335"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=138335"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}