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• Posted May 7, 2025

Food Choices Could Influence First Period, Research Shows

WEDNESDAY, May 7, 2025 (HealthDay News) — What your child eats could play a role in when they start puberty, a new study shows.

Researchers found that girls who ate more inflammatory foods were 15% more likely to get their first period in the next month. On the other hand, a healthier diet lowered the odds by 8%. The findings were published May 6 in the journal Human Reproduction.

An early first period is more than just a milestone. It’s linked to a higher risk of breast cancer, heart disease and diabetes later in life, said study author Holly Harris, an epidemiologist at Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle.

“This may be an important time period for lowering risk of chronic diseases that occur in adulthood,” Harris told CNN.

The study included more than 7,500 children ages 9 to 14 from the Growing Up Today Study. Researchers looked at their diets using two indexes: one gauging how foods and nutrients predict chronic disease, and another considering how inflammatory a diet was.

"Eating a healthy diet in late childhood and early adolescence is associated with girls having a later first period compared to those consuming a less healthy diet. Importantly, this association was not explained by the impact of diet on body size,” Harris said.

When body mass index (BMI), an estimate of body fat based on height and weight, was factored in, the connection remained.

This means the early start wasn’t just due to obesity. Something else in an unhealthy diet might be playing a role, Wang said.

Other environmental factors, like air pollution or chemicals in personal care products, may also influence when kids start puberty. Experts recommend checking databases like SkinSafeProducts.com or Skin Deep to choose safer options.

“Our findings highlight the need for all children and adolescents to have access to healthy meal options, and the importance of school-based breakfasts and lunches being based on evidence-based guidelines,” Harris said.

Dr. Natalie Muth, a pediatrician and dietitian in San Diego, said even small changes help.

“Any change that can lower intake of things like chips, cookies, and sodas and increase intake of fruits and vegetables is a big win,” she said.

More information

There's more about menarche, the start of menstruation at the Cleveland Clinic. 

SOURCE: CNN, May 6, 2025