On the streets, parents whispered about a troubling issue — the precocious puberty of 530,000 children. This number is like an insurmountable chasm that separates anxiety and ignorance. In the midst of this crisis, nicknamed the "death of the Chinese family", parents are worried about their children's future, and they have launched a deep excavation into the root causes of precocious puberty.
Behind the scenes of this story is a broad arena for society, family, and school to participate. Everyone involved is working to understand and solve this problem. However, what is the truth?What is "destroying" a child's future?As the story progresses, these mysteries will be unraveled one by one.
Social concerns about precocious puberty in childrenIn recent years, the problem of precocious puberty in children in China has gradually become the focus of public attention. In an ordinary family in Beijing, Li Tingting, an 11-year-old girl, became a representative of this phenomenon. Tingting's mother, Ms. Li, noticed that her daughter was taller and more mature compared to children of the same age. This caused her to worry, so she took Tingting to the hospital for a check-up.
In the hospital's pediatric endocrinology department, Ms. Li and Tingting met Dr. Zhang, a specialist in precocious puberty in children. After a detailed examination and consultation, Dr. Zhang diagnosed Tingting as indeed having the problem of precocious puberty.
Ms. Li anxiously asked, "Doctor, what's going on?"Is it because we often give her soy milk?Dr. Zhang patiently explained, "Soy milk is not the main reason. Precocious puberty is the result of a number of factors, including genetics, nutrition, and lifestyle habits. ”
Tingting's situation at school has also undergone some changes. Her classmates talked about her physical changes, and some even began to distance themselves from her. One day, Tingting came home from school and said to her mother with tears in her eyes: "Mom, they don't play with me anymore, saying that I look like an adult." Ms. Li comforted her: "Don't be sad, Mom will help you." ”
In order to help her daughter, Ms. Li actively looked for solutions. She attended community-organized health talks to learn how to adjust her family's diet and lifestyle. Ms. Li changed her family's eating habits, reducing high-fat and high-sugar foods, increasing her intake of vegetables and fruits, and encouraging Tingting to participate in more physical activities.
Tingting's school has also begun to pay attention to the issue of precocious puberty. The school invites experts to give lectures explaining the causes and effects of precocious puberty and educating children on how to understand and support each other. The school has also strengthened some health education programs to encourage children to maintain healthy eating habits and moderate physical activity.
Truth**: Misconceptions about food and precocious pubertyIn a typical Chinese urban community, a lecture is being held about the relationship between precocious puberty and eating in children. The community's room was filled with parents who came with concerns about their children's future and doubts about the relationship between food and precocious puberty. The keynote speaker of the lecture was a child nutrition expert, Professor Zhang.
Professor Zhang first pointed out a common misconception: "Many parents are worried that soy isoflavones in soy milk will cause precocious puberty in their children. But in reality, the substance is very low in content and much less potent compared to estrogen in the body. ”
One parent couldn't help but interject: "So should we completely ban our children from drinking soy milk?"Professor Zhang replied with a smile: "It is safe to drink soy milk in moderation, and the key is to maintain a balanced and varied diet. The discussion turned to another common misconception – the reuse of frying oil.
"There is a theory in the market that the fats used in fried foods, especially those used for repeated heating, can lead to precocious puberty in children. This is actually a misconception, and there is currently no scientific evidence to support this claim. Another member of the audience asked, "So how do we choose cooking oil?"”
"It is best to choose vegetable oil and be careful not to heat it at high temperatures for a long time, so as not to produce harmful substances," Professor Zhang advised. During the lecture, Professor Zhang also emphasized the importance of a balanced diet.
"A child's diet should be rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and moderate amounts of protein," he noted. Too many processed foods and foods high in sugar should be avoided as much as possible. The parents listened attentively and took notes from time to time to make important points.
As the lecture deepened, Professor Zhang broke some superstitions and misunderstandings in the minds of parents through facts and figures. He offers suggestions for several healthy recipes to encourage parents to try at home. At the end of the lecture, parents said that they had benefited a lot and had a clearer understanding of their children's diet and health.
Nutrition and Development: The Relationship Between Obesity and Precocious Puberty Parents are increasingly recognizing the link between obesity and precocious puberty in children. At a parent-teacher conference over the weekend, the school's nutrition consultant*** was explaining how obesity is one of the main risk factors for precocious puberty.
** Notes: "When children consume too much high-energy, high-fat foods, such as sweets and fast foods, they will have a surplus of energy and fat in their bodies, which can not only lead to obesity, but also precocious puberty." One parent worriedly asked, "So how should we adjust our children's diet?"”
Answer: "It is important to maintain a balanced and varied diet, reduce the intake of high-calorie foods and increase vegetables and fruits. * Further explains how the accumulated fat in the body affects the development of children. "Too much fat in the body promotes the formation of estrogen, which has an impact on the normal development of the child. ”
One parent asked, "What about sports?"Can exercise help reduce this risk?* Answer in the affirmative: "Of course, moderate physical activity is the key to preventing childhood obesity and precocious puberty." ”
In response to this, the school decided to add more content about healthy eating and exercise to the curriculum. The PE curriculum has been redesigned with more fun sports to increase student engagement.
At the same time, school cafeterias are starting to offer more balanced and healthy meal options, reducing the number of high-sugar and high-fat foods**.
Parents are also starting to make changes at home. Within the community, some families are experimenting with growing their own vegetables and fruits as a way to encourage children to learn about and participate in the process of healthy eating from an early age. Parents also organized healthy cooking classes on weekends to share low-fat, high-nutrient recipes and invited dietitians for guidance.
In addition, a fitness center within the community offers a range of fun exercise classes for children, including swimming, skipping rope and dancing, designed to give children a sense of fitness through play. Trainers at the fitness center have designed workout programs specifically for children that are appropriate for their age and fitness level, ensuring that exercise is both safe and effective.
Lifestyle changes: Keeping children away from precocious puberty.
In a typical Chinese city, a parent assembly was held at an elementary school in the community focused on how to prevent precocious puberty in children through fine-tuning in daily life. At the meeting, Ms. Yang, a nutrition expert at the school, made specific suggestions: "We need to reduce the frequency of children's intake of fast food and sweets, which are essential for weight control. ”
One parent asked, "How should we balance our children's daily meals?""This can be achieved by increasing the intake of vegetables and fruits, as well as choosing whole grains and low-fat proteins," Yang responded. ”
Ms. Wang, the school's physical education teacher, also expressed her views at the meeting, emphasizing the importance of moderate physical activity: "At least one hour of moderate-intensity physical activity every day helps children maintain a healthy weight. ”
One concerned parent asked, "What can we do with children who don't like sports?"Teacher Wang suggested: "You can try different sports and find something that your child is interested in, such as swimming, dancing or team sports. In addition to diet and physical activity, the school's psychology teacher, Ms. Zhang, also gave advice on maintaining children's mental health.
"Good mental health is also crucial, and parents should encourage their children to express their feelings and provide the necessary support," said Ms. Zhang. One parent asked, "How can we communicate effectively with our children?"Teacher Zhang suggested: "Listen more to children's ideas and create an open and inclusive communication environment." ”
Parents began to implement these recommendations at home after this parent-teacher conference. They prepare healthier meals for families, such as steamed fish, sautéed vegetables, and whole-grain bread, reducing the intake of fried and high-sugar foods. Parents also encourage their children to participate in a variety of physical activities, such as family excursions on weekends, basketball practice in the community, or dance classes.
At the same time, some businesses in the community have also responded positively to this initiative. Local restaurants are starting to offer more healthy options, such as vegetable salads, lean burgers, and low-sugar drinks. These measures have been well received by parents and children.