Is it better for children to develop early or late?

With the rapid improvement of living standards and material conditions, drinking water is no longer monotonous, and various nutritional products are appearing on the market in an endless stream. Parents all hope to give their children the best things. Therefore, the physical development of teenagers today has greatly improved compared to more than a decade ago, but it has also attracted some bad habits. Parents begin to wonder whether to develop well or not. So, let the editor reveal the answer to us.

There are two factors that affect the early or late development of adolescents: one is normal factors, and the other is pathological factors.

Due to the influence of normal factors (including genetics, nutrition, lifestyle habits, emotions and other environmental factors), there are large individual differences in the age of onset of puberty, the speed of development, the age of maturity and the level of development achieved. There are differences between men and women, and there are differences between different regions and different races. Even under the same living environment, adolescents of the same gender and ethnicity will not experience exactly the same changes during puberty. According to surveys, adolescents in tropical regions develop early, while those in cold regions develop late, and the difference can be several years. Adolescents in cities tend to develop earlier than those in rural areas, and children of intellectuals also often tend to develop early. The reasons for these differences are still not fully understood.

Pathological factors include the following three: ① Abnormalities of the hypothalamus or gonads. For example, if the sexual center of the hypothalamus is diseased, or if tumors grow in the testicles or ovaries, premature development may occur. Boys will experience pubic hair, armpit hair, beard, voice changes, enlarged testicles, and nocturnal emission before puberty; girls will experience pubic hair, armpit hair, breast enlargement, and menstruation. Some people are over 17 or 18 years old, and apart from growing a little taller, there is no sign of development in the whole body. This is late development.

The reasons are more complicated, and may be obesity due to reproductive incompetence, hypothalamic disease, or small testicles or ovaries. ② Abnormal adrenal secretion, when the secretion of androgen is excessive, girls may grow beards and become masculine; when the secretion of estrogen is excessive, male breasts may develop and become feminine. ③ In some children, the mammary glands begin to develop when they are two or three years old. Some of these developments may last for a short time, while others may continue until puberty. If only breast changes occur without the appearance of nipples, areolas or other secondary sexual characteristics, it is not considered precocious puberty and the menstrual process will remain normal in the future. This type of abnormality is generally not a big problem. To be cautious, you should go to the hospital for a check-up.

I believe that through the editor’s introduction, everyone has a certain understanding. Adolescence is a critical time for development in all aspects. You should pay attention to a balanced diet and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Remember not to be picky about food, otherwise it will easily lead to malnutrition and even affect the normal growth of height and weight. You should exercise more often to allow food to be better absorbed.