Male maturity shaped by early nutrition; Differences between the sexes affected by environment during first six months of life

ScienceDaily (2010-09-13) -- A new study makes a strong case for nurture's role in male to female differences -- suggesting that rapid weight gain in the first six months of life predicts earlier puberty for boys. Males who experienced rapid growth as babies -- an indication that they were not nutritionally stressed -- also were taller, had more muscle and were stronger, and had higher testosterone levels as young adults.