VIDEO
Puberty in Girls: Weight Gain and the Danger of Developing an Eating Disorders
What are some of the normal physical and weight changes associated with puberty?
An understanding of normal adolescent development can be helpful, particularly when a young person displays warning signs associated with anorexia.
The word puberty comes from a Latin word that means “adulthood”; the term is used to describe the time when a child goes through the process of becoming a mature adult. Visible changes occur physically, but puberty is associated with various social, behavioral, and psychological changes as well. Puberty itself is actually a lengthy process, beginning years before a young woman’s first menstrual period or the development of secondary sexual characteristics in both boys and girls.
Before any physical signs of puberty can be observed, the production of hormones responsible for sexual maturation begins to increase (in girls, estrogen is produced in the ovaries; in boys, androgens, such as testosterone, are produced in the testes). This increase in hormone production leads to the development of outward, physical signs of sexual maturity.
The process of pubertal change normally begins between ages 8 and 12 in females and between ages 9 and 14 in males. The entire process can take up to four years. During this time, boys and girls typically experience a growth spurt in height. Girls can grow between 8 and 12 inches taller. Likewise, boys gain approximately 20% of their adult height during this stage, sometimes growing 4 to 5 inches in a year’s time. Weight gain is also substantial during this time of development. Both boys and girls are expected to gain roughly 50% of their adult weight-that is a doubling of weight within a few years of pubertal onset. This means that a female teenager can commonly gain up to 40–50 pounds in just a few years.
Body shape also changes during puberty. In girls, the hips and thighs widen. Total body fat percentage increases in females (from about 8% to 20-25%) and fat “pads” develop on the stomach, thighs, and buttocks. This increase in body fat is essential for menstruation to begin. In contrast, boys’ body fat percentage drops (from about 20–25% to between 10–15%) and muscle mass increases significantly; however, total weight gain in males averages 50% of their adult weight. Your child’s physician will routinely plot the growth in height and weight that takes place during puberty. For parents of a child or adolescent with anorexia, growth charts can be helpful for monitoring progress in treatment as measured by a return to normal development (growth charts for home use and reference can be found online at http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts). Timing of pubertal development appears to play a role in body dissatisfaction and the development of eating disorders.
Studies show that early maturing girls and late maturing boys are at greater risk for body dissatisfaction. Early maturation in girls is associated with poorer self-esteem, increased likelihood of depression, more behavioral problems, and poorer achievement in school; while late maturing boys experience less peer popularity, greater parental conflict, less confidence, and lower school achievement.
To be sure, changes in physical appearance can be a source of stress and anxiety for many teens. Predominant cultural ideas about beauty and attractiveness inundate the average young person at a time when they are typically struggling just to feel comfortable with their changing appearance. Coupled with the expected physical changes, teens face the additional pressure of adjusting to the changing social roles of adolescence. As children begin to look more like adults, responsibilities at school and in the home increase, an interest in dating begins to develop, and decisions about future vocational plans and adult identity loom on the horizon. For these teens, a changing body can become a symbol of the changing expectations and responsibilities associated with adulthood.
Studies show that maturity fears are common among teens and represent an increased risk for anorexia. For some, calorie restriction and weight loss become a false means of remaining physically childlike, thus superficially delaying the arrival of adulthood. Anorexia symptoms may be a means for coping with the demands of maturity while simultaneously allowing teens to “shrink away” or “disappear” from these demands.
Some patients report that anorexia provides an illusion of control at a time when uncontrollable bodily changes are taking place. Parents, coaches, and teachers can provide helpful support to young people at this stage of development. Patience, acceptance, and an understanding of the pressures experienced by teens can help vulnerable individuals feel safe in a time of great change. Be open to talking with your teen about the changes they are experiencing, but also be sure to give them enough autonomy as they navigate their way through puberty and into adulthood.
Terms:
Estrogen- Female hormone produced by the ovaries. It stimulates the development of secondary sexual characteristics and induces menstruation in women.
Androgens – Male sex hormones, responsible for the development of male secondary sex characteristics
