What Dangers Does Improper Dieting Pose to Girls' Health?

What Dangers Does Improper Dieting Pose to Girls' Health?

For girls who are overweight during childhood, adopting inappropriate dieting practices can have detrimental effects on their health. Restricting the consumption of animal protein and fats might lead these girls to continue such dietary patterns into their adolescence, consequently raising their likelihood of developing chronic diseases, breast cancer, and uterine cancer in later life. Nevertheless, this potential connection can be altered, unlike other pathogenic factors such as a genetic history of diseases that are difficult to intervene with. Parents only need to modify their children's dieting behaviors to avert the risk of these ailments.

To elucidate the relationship between dieting and growth and development maturity, researchers delved deeper into their analysis. The findings indicated that girls consuming higher levels of animal protein during ages 3 to 4 experienced an earlier onset of their first menstrual period (menarche) compared to those consuming more plant protein. Similarly, girls with higher fat intake in their diet during ages 1 to 2 and those with higher animal protein intake between ages 6 to 8 entered adolescence earlier. An early onset of menarche is linked to an increased incidence of breast cancer, likely due to the higher levels of estrogen secreted throughout a lifetime.

The current healthcare endeavor involves reducing the intake of saturated fats, red meat, and excessive calories during childhood, while increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables. This shift is anticipated to decrease the occurrence of breast cancer and yield other health benefits. However, it might also entail an elevated risk of osteoporosis and other diseases.