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Abstract
The trend of early onset puberty has been increasing in recent years. As several studies have shown, a strong link between diet and puberty has been established in animals as well as in humans. However, not much attention has been paid to the cultural influences that have emerged recently such as television, computers, and gaming devices. Several different aspects of this trend were carefully studied and analyzed such as television and diet habits, children with early onset puberty, hormonal changes in children with early onset puberty, as well as the methodology of administering treatment. By connecting television to early onset puberty, pediatricians can reconsider treatment options for children maturing at a faster-than-normal rate and the harmful effects of early puberty (i.e. increased risk for breast/testicular cancer, insulin rejection, etc.) can be better averted. After careful analysis of reports from a wide range of persons all over the world, increased television viewing time was shown to be associated with a higher intake of fatty foods, a higher BMI, and in turn higher leptin levels. These high leptin levels predisposed the child to early puberty and the most effective way to treat this proved to be providing a detailed prescription outlining how to cut down on television and poor food habits in order to maintain healthy growth.
Publication Date
2014
Current Academic Year
Freshman
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Mary C. Boyes
Sponsorship
Virginia Commonwealth University. Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program
Is Part Of
VCU Undergraduate Research Posters
Rights
© The Author(s)
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