Early Puberty in Girls -- What parents should know

A condition in which a child's body begins changing into that of an adult too soon.

Being obese:

   Children who are significantly overweight have a higher risk of developing precocious puberty.

Complications

  Possible complications of precocious puberty include:



Short height:

  Children with precocious puberty may grow quickly   at first and be tall, compared with their peers.   But, because their bones mature more quickly than normal,

  they often stop growing earlier than usual. 

  This can cause them to be shorter than average as adults.





Social and emotional problems:

  Girls and boys who begin puberty long before their   peers may be extremely self-conscious about the changes   occurring in their bodies. This may affect self-esteem 

  and increase the risk of depression or substance abuse.

Prevention

    Encouraging your child to maintain a healthy weight