Current insights on nutritional deficits from junk food and their risk of early puberty and PCOS in females

High junk food consumption, low in essential nutrients, contributes to hormonal imbalances and metabolic issues that increase the risk of early puberty and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in young females. Junk foods’ unhealthy fats, sugars, and additives can lead to insulin resistance, obesity, and hormonal shifts, elevating PCOS risk, which affects between 3.7% and 22.5% of teenage girls and young women in India. Early puberty, now affecting about 10.4% of Indian children, is also linked to obesity and junk food intake. Addressing these risks through balanced nutrition, lifestyle changes, and education is essential. New anti-obesity drugs and nutritional counseling offer promising interventions to support hormonal health and prevent these conditions in adolescent girls. This newsletter underscores the importance of diet in hormonal development and reproductive health.