Breastfeeding could help prevent early puberty in girls and boys, South Korean study finds – CBC

Formula-fed kids more likely to have extra weight

Aug 19, 2025

Girls and boys who were exclusively breastfed during their first four to six months showed a reduced risk of early puberty, according to a large new study from South Korea that Canadian doctors say could apply here.

The study, published in Monday’s issue of JAMA Network Open, looked back at the diets and development of more than 300,000 children from 2007 to 2020, based on data from checkups at four to six months of age and before six years.

Worldwide, puberty has increasingly begun earlier in kids. Called “central precocious puberty,” it’s linked to an increased risk of health problems in adulthood, like heart disease, cancer and diabetes, as well as mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

The researchers believe that kids who are exclusively breastfed are less likely to develop childhood obesity, a major predisposing factor of early puberty. However, experts note that many mothers face challenges in breastfeeding, which they say should be addressed on a structural level.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/puberty-early-formula-breastfeeding-1.7612045