What is a common characteristic of girls who mature late?

Puberty is considered late if there are no signs of puberty by 13 years in girls, and 14 in boys. If a girl shows other signs of puberty but hasn’t had her first period by 16, this is also considered late.

Teenagers might be self-conscious or embarrassed about not being as developed as their peers. For example, studies have found that boys who start puberty late have lower self-esteem than other boys their age. You can talk to your child about his body and feelings, and reassure him that he will catch up to his peers eventually.

Late puberty is most commonly caused by family genetics. If you or other family members experienced late puberty, it’s more likely that your child will too. You might hear this called ‘constitutional delay’ by health professionals. These teenagers usually catch up to their peers – they just start developing later.

Late puberty can also be caused by lifestyle issues like poor nutrition, eating disorders or severe stress. Chronic illness, hormonal conditions and some genetic disorders can also cause late puberty, but these are less common. Seek advice from a health professional if you or your child have concerns.

Explanation:

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