Growth and Development

American Girls Reaching Puberty Earlier

Published in Women's Health Weekly, April 21st, 1997

Girls in the United States appear to be entering puberty earlier than they did in the past, according to a new American Academy of Pediatrics study, but researchers are not sure why.

African-American girls begin puberty shortly before age nine on average, while Caucasian girls begin just before age 10, the study shows. Before age eight, 27 percent of African-Americans and almost 7 percent of Caucasians already have begun developing breasts, growing pubic, and underarm hair, or both. Why racial differences occur also is unknown.

"No adequate studies have been done in the United States on puberty norms," said Dr. Marcia E. Herman-Giddens of the...

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Source: Women's Health Weekly (1997-04-21)

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