Quick Question

We now know that obesity in childhood can trigger early puberty in girls:

Lee noted that girls in the United States are entering puberty at younger ages than they were 30 years ago. Over that same time, there’s been a significant increase in obesity rates among American children.

“Previous studies had found that girls who have earlier puberty tend to have higher body mass index (BMI), but it was unclear whether puberty led to the weight gain or weight gain led to the earlier onset of puberty. Our study offers evidence that it is the latter,” said Lee, who is also assistant professor in the department of pediatrics and communicable diseases at the U-M Medical School.

We also know that Shaquille O’Neal is trying to help kids with health and weight-control issues:

Shaquille O’Neal will be taking a shot at a TV reality show focused on childhood obesity and health. The ABC summer series will feature the Miami Heat star and his effort to help Florida schoolchildren lose weight, ABC said Monday. …

The series, being filmed in Broward County, Fla., will track the lives of the children involved. O’Neal will be on hand as booster and, in episodes yet to be shot, will lobby politicians on causes including school nutrition, Daily Variety reported Monday.

The show is an adaptation of the British series Ian Wright’s Unfit Kids, which featured the former soccer star.

O’Neal, a father of six, has been outspoken about the issue of children and weight problems.

So this mean we’ll someday realize that Shaquille O’Neal prevents early puberty?

That would be a hell of a line to have on your resume:

“… and from 2007 to 2012 I prevented 46.7 million children from reaching early puberty.”

Tags: Tags: obesity