That's a heartbreaking story, but maybe an NSFW for the very disturbing photo might be in order.

That is sad. I had an early puberty, by the standards at the time - I was 8 and the average age was 13. I believe the age of puberty for girls has come down in the Western World, around 11 or 12 now.

That made me so very, very sad. Poor little thing. How scary for her.

/offtopic

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The glasses, the glasses! They're swirling!

Many of the bovine growth hormones and pesticides that are commonly used in the United States will cause precocious puberty and thelarche (premature breast development) because of their endocrine-disrupting chemicals. I wonder if her endocrine disorder was caused by an uncommonly high exposure to some sort of chemical...

Whatever the cause, how very sad. I hope she had some good theraputic help.

I can't believe there's a "Little Chicago" district of Lima, Peru.

Specklet - coupled with the problem of growth hormones is plastic. Specifically "Phthalates are EDC's (Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals.) They are chemicals found in recycle codes #1 through #6 plastics. Another EDC (Bisphenol A) is in recycle code #7 plastics. All of these types of plastic EDC's interfere with the function of sex hormones receptors." Can't remember where I read the original article, but phthalates and bisphenol A may contribute to the early onset of puberty and also affect menopause. See also. And recycling codes.

Thanks, Zach. Man, all that shit is scary.

Many more related factoids are on this site.