Sugary Drinks May Spur Early Menstruation, Affecting Obesity, Breast Cancer

A Harvard University study that recorded the health histories of girls aged 9 to 14, tracking their consumption of sugary drinks, reports that those who consumed the most on average started their periods earlier than others. The study, conducted between 1996 and 2001, shows that girls who drank more than 1.5 servings a day began to menstruate 2.7 months earlier than their peers. The researchers said a main concern is childhood obesity, but early menstruation has also been associated with breast cancer. A 2.7 month decrease in age at onset of menstruation “likely has a modest impact on breast cancer risk”.