Environmental Factors and Puberty Timing: Expert Panel Research Needs

In 2008, an expert panel reviewed the impact of environmental influences on puberty onset and progression. They concluded that endocrine-disrupting chemicals and body size could potentially alter pubertal onset and progression in both boys and girls. The panel identified gaps in data and recommended future research to focus on these chemicals and body size in relation to normal puberty and its variants. They also suggested prospective studies of couples planning pregnancies or pregnant women to capture exposure at critical development windows. The panel noted that understanding the mechanisms underlying puberty is essential for assessing the effects of these chemicals on human development. However, the data remained inconclusive due to limitations such as the focus on single chemicals and the inability of cross-sectional studies to establish causal relationships.