By Dr. Priyom Bose, Ph.D. Reviewed by Lauren Hardaker Apr 16 2026 New research reveals how stress, body weight, and hormone patterns interact to influence when puberty begins, offering fresh insight into long-term health risks and early intervention opportunities.  Study: Steroids, stress, and body mass index interact to accelerate female pubertal development. Image credit: Viktoriia Patapova/Shutterstock.com A recent Journal of  Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism study identified steroid