ABU DHABI // High rates of obesity could cause some children to suffer either early or late onset of puberty, say health experts who point to a sedentary lifestyle and too much junk food.

Precocious puberty – or reaching puberty at an unusually early age – can lead to the development of secondary sexual characteristics in children as young as 7.

Although exact numbers do not exist for the UAE, a study by the Children’s National Medical Centre in Washington found one in 5,000 children in the United States suffered from the condition. Most of the girls who went through puberty early were obese or overweight. According to a study conducted by Zayed Military Hospital, one in three children in the UAE are overweight.

“Children in the Gulf eat a lot of junk food. Also, due to the heat they are not able to play outdoors or get much physical activity,” said Dr Ahed Bisharat, head of paediatrics at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi.

“Many of them are obese and this may cause early or delayed puberty. Increasingly in this part of the world, we are seeing overweight girls who have attained puberty.”

This could lead to psychological problems. “When a girl as young as 7 develops breasts, she might get confused and emotionally disturbed: she is mentally still a child.”

“She doesn’t understand what’s happening to her body and might feel depressed. A girl that young is not ready to cope with menstruation,” said Dr Bisharat.

Obesity can cause an increase in oestrogen in females, and the hormonal imbalance may lead to early or delayed sexual development.

Obese boys also have been known to suffer from precocious puberty.

“They start thinking they are men, but they are only boys of 8 or 9 year. Their voices start cracking. All of this can be disorientating for the boy,” said Dr Alaeddin Saghir, an endocrinologist who specialises in puberty at two facilities in Dubai Healthcare City.

Other problems can arise.

“Bone maturation goes hand in hand with early sexual growth and thus, children might gain height initially, but have a short stature later as they stop gaining height,” said Dr Bisharat.

Conversely, because obesity interferes with hormones, overweight children can also suffer from delayed puberty.

If a child has not undergone puberty by the age of 17, it can cause physical and psychological damage.

For example, delayed puberty in boys – usually defined if they have not reached maturity by the age of 17 – can lead to infertility.

“A boy who hasn’t attained puberty by the time he is 17 might feel isolated as he will struggle to understand what his peers are talking about,” said Dr Saghir.

Diagnosing the cause of early or delayed puberty is important to ensure that it is not caused by thyroid problems, a tumour or some other reason.

“If obesity is the cause, we first try to make the child lose weight. Following a careful diet and exercising are important,” said Dr Saghir. Hormone injections are the next option.

Doctors will also liaise with parents to discuss how they can help children going through early or delayed puberty.

“We also involve schools as they have their own counsellors and children spend a significant amount of their time in schools,” said Dr Bisharat.

“Parents should control their child’s weight even when they are as young as 3 or 4. Giving kids healthy food and a balanced diet is key.”

arizvi2@thenational.ae