Is it just me or are high school kids bigger now in general then even ten years ago?

Question

I am 26 and looking at the kids now they seem much taller and more developed. The women seem to be developing early too. I am not trying to sound perverted here. Am I right? Is it hormones in food or what?

Answer 1

You are not perverted. There have been several studies now that show that children are maturing faster. In fact, in the last 50 years the time of a woman's first menstruation has moved 3 years earlier.

As far as I know, scientists aren't sure yet what is causing this. I do know, however, that several studies indicate that increased weight (fat) has been shown to jump-start menstruation. So, there may be a link between increasing incidents of child obesity and puberty at an earlier age. It oculd also be something in our food (i.e. hormones). It could also be a response to social pressure which encourages children to dress and act older.

It's a difficult question to answer because, unlike most scientific experiments, you can't control all the variables aside from the one you'd like to test. There are variations among races, genders, diets, amounts of exercise, etc. all of which can influence puberty.

Answer 2

What it is is the increase of teenaged pregnancies, it's like this;
The teenagers who mature faster often end up getting pregnant earlier, so they have children who inherited the slightly earlier maturity time. They then go on to have children before other people do, so those kids are in highschool before 'normal people's', as the cycle continues the average physical maturity age slowly drops as the years go by.
It's evolution on a small scale

Answer 3

I read online that teens are not only larger (I don't mean obesity only, but their frames as well) but they are developing earlier. Menstration, puberty, the works starting as early as nine.
There are lots of theories as to why this is happening. Food chemicals are among these.

Answer 4

It seems like it to me too (I am in my 40's). I have heard that all the hormones in meats and dairy are to blame, but who knows... maybe we're evolving into a race of super-humans.

Answer 5

Yes, hormones and a lot of food are causing faster growth, but also is causing obesity esp. in urban kids.

Answer 6

its not what its it hormones in food, plus the instruction to keep growing due to our everyday activities........ the need to get in a football team, practice, being muscular, the survival thing the subconscious natural selection that happened on the galapagos islands is in the city centres.

Answer 7

It's because of all the growth hormones and genetically engineered food they/ we are producing and consuming... it's a chain reaction thing...

Answer 8

I am 14 and I am taller than my mum and dad. I also know a lot of other people who are. I think that it evolution myself but I know that a lot of scientists are blaming it on processed food. But I rarely ever eat processed food.

Answer 9

Well it just depends.