With its addiction eating away at youth's health, fast food 'accelerating' puberty in girls

Experts claim that fast food intake is a big contributor to increased obesity, early puberty in girls, and health complications in infants and it is also linked to mental disorders such as anxiety and depression. Dr Muzna Arif, an endocrinologist at Aga Khan University and Hospital (AKUH), highlighted how fast food can lead to early puberty and other health problems. "As endocrinologists, we are increasingly noticing signs of early puberty, particularly in girls, and one of the leading contributing factors is the intake of fast or processed foods. These foods cause substantial weight gain due to their high starch and carbohydrate levels. The higher intake of the abovementioned macros, the higher the insulin levels, which causes a variety of changes in the human body. High insulin levels release and increase another hormone called leptin, which triggers early puberty”, she added.