Girls who grow up eating a healthier diet than their peers may be less likely to get their first menstrual periods at an earlier age — regardless of height or body mass index — a new study suggests.
Though previous research has tied height and BMI to the earlier onset of menarche, or first period, the study, published Tuesday in the journal Human Reproduction, claims to be the first to explore the biological milestone’s link to specific diets.
Girls typically begin puberty — marked by acne, growth spurts, breast development and the growth of body and pubic hair — anywhere from ages 8 to 13, according to the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. They get their first periods roughly two years after their breasts start developing.
