A recent study has linked aggressive behavior of teenage girls to an early onset of puberty, although at the same time blaming the lack of a healthy or positive relationship with parents to be one of the contributing factors to such behavioral problems.

According to the research, girls who experience early puberty are at a greater risk of developing aggressive behavioral traits over the years, like fighting, teasing, substance abuse and rumor mongering.

However, the researchers very clearly stated that this was true only incase of girls who lacked a happy, strong relationship with their parents, thus blaming parental neglect also, to be partly responsible for their behavioral extremities.

From the Department of Human Development and Family Studies and the Graduate Program in Nutrition, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.

The prevalence of obesity among children is high and is increasing. We know that obesity runs in families, with children of obese parents at greater risk of developing obesity than children of thin parents. Research on genetic factors in obesity has provided us with estimates of the proportion of the variance in a population accounted for by genetic factors. However, this research does not provide information regarding individual development. To design effective preventive interventions, research is needed to delineate how genetics and environmental factors interact in the etiology of childhood obesity. Addressing this question is especially challenging because parents provide both genes and environment for children.