Puberty

Around the world, entry into adulthood is often marked ceremoniously in males and females. A rite of passage ceremony is held to honor this transition. This type of ceremony is usually held in less-industrialized countries where boys and girls are expected to assume adult roles at the end of puberty. The Arapesh of New Guinea build the young woman a menstrual hut at the home of her husband-to-be. Her girlish ornaments are removed, and the girl acquires "womanly" markings and jewelry. The ceremony marks the beginning of her fertility. Young Mano men of Liberia go through a ceremonial "death" at puberty. These young men used to be stabbed with a spear and thrown over a cliff to symbolize death and rebirth into adulthood. Actually, a protective padding kept the spear from penetrating them, and a sack of chicken blood was tied over the spot to appear as though the boy had been stuck. He was not tossed over the cliff, but a heavy object was thrown over instead to sound like he had been thrown. Pubertal Apache girls are sometimes showered with golden cattail pollen (considered holy) as part of a four-day ritual. And boys and girls in Bali, Indonesia, formally come of age when a priest files their six top teeth even so they will not appear fanged.

By comparison, industrialized countries seldom have pubertal rites of passage. In fact, puberty may not be discussed often. Instead, these teenagers are usually expected to continue their education for some time before they can settle down and have a family. The changes that accompany puberty often bring on new feelings, however. Adolescents begin to contemplate independence from their parents and assume more adult roles in their family. In addition, puberty is a time when some boys and girls begin to think about their sexuality and sexual activity. Because the human body undergoes such significant and seemingly rapid changes in puberty, it can be a frightening time if a boy or girl does not understand what they are experiencing. Studies have shown that boys and girls who have been told about pubertal changes are less frightened and have fewer emotional problems related to puberty than children who have not been informed about what to expect.

With sexual maturation comes fertility. Many people do not become sexually active during puberty, but those who do have the additional adult responsibility to respect the possibility of pregnancy. For teenagers who begin having intercourse, contraceptive options exist to prevent pregnancy. Another serious consideration, however, is the possibility of contracting a sexually transmittable disease (STD). Not all STDs are curable. Some are debilitating, and others are fatal. The key is protection. Most contraceptives do not protect against both pregnancy and STDs.

Adolescence is not a good time to play Russian roulette with a poor diet either. A diet of potato chips and ice cream or celery and water will not optimize healthy growth. They will both hinder it. Loading up on junk food or slimming down by fasting are both dangerous. During puberty, a lot of body mass is constructed, and the right nutritional building blocks are essential. Calcium, protein, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins are all important. And enough calories to fuel development is also needed. During puberty, adolescents need about 2,000-2,500 calories a day. Some girls become self-conscious of their developing bodies and try to minimize fatty tissue growth by fasting or making themselves throw up food they have eaten. Both of these mechanisms to stay thin are extremely dangerous, can have long-term detrimental effects on health, and should be avoided. Adolescents who can turn to a trustworthy adult with their questions or concerns about puberty may find this transition easier.