Yes, bloating is very common for girls during puberty, often linked to hormonal changes as their menstrual cycles begin, causing feelings of fullness and sometimes tighter clothes, alongside other symptoms like cramps, mood swings, and breast tenderness, due to shifting estrogen and progesterone levels affecting digestion and fluid retention.
The whirlwind of hormones during puberty can disrupt normal digestion, causing GI symptoms. In particular, female teens might experience changes in digestive health linked to menstrual cycles. For example, some might notice increased bloating or changes in bowel habits before their period.
Body Shape: When girls go through puberty their hips tend to get wider and their waist may get smaller. You daughter might also notice her body carrying more fat in her stomach, butt and legs.
Many people who menstruate have symptoms such as bloating 1 to 2 days before the start of their periods. Some people have symptoms during the five or more days before their periods start that get in the way of their daily activities. This is called premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
For girls, the stages of puberty start around the age of 8. This may sound young, but we are seeing physical puberty changes start younger and younger and depending on genetics, you may even start to see puberty changes at the age of 7. The first sign of puberty for girls is breast development or breast budding.
How do you know when the first menstrual period will start?
It might be as simple as eating too much too fast, or you could have a food intolerance or other condition that causes gas and digestive contents to build up. Your menstrual cycle is another common cause of temporary bloating. Sometimes a bloated stomach can indicate a more serious medical condition.
Water retention before your period, bloating, GI issues, food cravings and an increased appetite can all contribute to weight gain or the feeling that you've gained some weight. You might put on about one pound of weight around your period. But this number will look different for everyone.
Bloating
A big belly in a normal child
As the child grows up, the growth in height and the perfection of the abdominal wall muscles will help the belly slim down. A big belly in children is considered normal if the child is active, eats well, does not cry, gains weight steadily, and sleeps well.
Females tend to gain the most weight during two key periods: emerging adulthood (late teens to mid-20s) when life changes often disrupt habits, and midlife (around ages 45-55) during menopause due to hormonal shifts that decrease muscle and increase abdominal fat, although the rate of gain slows in later decades. While the 20s see significant overall gain, menopause brings distinct body composition changes and fat redistribution, not just scale weight.
Puberty is a time of big changes physically, emotionally, and mentally. Between the ages of 10 and 14, it's completely normal for some teens to gain up to 30lbs.
Gas and bloating usually are caused by something your child eats or drinks, including some natural health products and medicines. Gas and bloating are usually harmless and go away without treatment. But changing your child's diet can help end the problem.
During Puberty Girls Grow Fast and Early
Unlike boys, their fastest rate of growth occurs early in puberty. They also gain more fat than boys in preparation for their menstrual cycle. They go from gaining about 5 pounds a year before puberty, to 12-23 pounds during puberty as shown below.
The signs of puberty include:
In the week or so ahead of your period, it's totally normal to weigh a bit more than usual and for your clothes to seem a little tighter. In fact, one study found that 65% of participants experienced swelling during their period — usually across the face, abdomen, pubic area, limbs and breasts [1].
While a high-fiber diet is a good thing for your digestive tract, overwhelming your system with too much fiber — particularly insoluble fiber, which is found in grains and vegetables and doesn't dissolve in water — can produce excessive gas. Drink plenty of water to keep your fiber moving!
Bloating may occasionally add a pound or two, but it doesn't actually signify weight gain. If you're wondering how to know if you're bloated or gaining weight, you'll want to address how your stomach looks and feels.
How to get rid of bloating
What causes belly fat in teenage females? Factors such as unhealthy eating habits, sedentary lifestyle, and hormonal changes during puberty, PCOS and hypothyroidism can contribute to belly fat in teenage females. It's essential for teenagers to adopt a balanced diet and regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight.
Common symptoms include bloating, cramping, tender or swollen breasts, mood changes, and headaches.
Genetics and environment both play a role in triggering menarche: Heredity: Your genes influence when you get your first period. People commonly get their periods when their mother did. Hormones: Hormones in your brain and your sex organs regulate your menstrual cycle and play a role in menarche, too.
Pubic hair development (“pubarche”) usually happens 1 to 2 years before the first period. The average age for pubarche is 11.6 years old.
Girls usually begin puberty between the ages of 8 and 13 years old. The earliest sign of puberty in most girls is the development of breast "buds," nickel-sized bumps under the nipple. It is not unusual for breast growth to start on one side before the other.