#ChildhoodObesity

Recent research and expert opinion highlight a growing trend worldwide: children are reaching puberty earlier than previous generations. This shift, described in a new book by a leading US clinical psychologist and echoed by global medical research, has deep implications for both physical and mental health. For Thai families, understanding what early puberty means—and how to support children through it—has never been more important.

Traditionally, puberty marked a transitional period from childhood to adolescence, typically starting around age 10 for girls and 12 for boys. But in recent years, doctors and parents alike have noticed that children as young as six are showing physical signs of development, outpacing their emotional and cognitive maturity. As Thai society becomes increasingly urbanized and children’s free time shrinks—driven by academic pressures and technology—this gap between body and mind is widening. According to the US psychologist cited in the Boston Globe report, ages six to 12 are now seen as the most crucial window for parents to influence and guide children before they are swept up in the whirlwind of adolescence.

A recent spotlight on children’s body image, highlighted by The Guardian’s feature “‘Mummy, Charlie called me fat today’: how to talk to kids about body image,” has reignited concern about how body shaming affects youngsters’ self-esteem worldwide—including here in Thailand. As schoolyard taunts become increasingly common and social media deepens pressure on appearance, experts stress that how adults respond can have profound implications for a child’s mental health and future relationship with their body.