12 years ago, 15 year old American teens looked like 15 year olds. Now 12 year old American girls look like they are 17.
Our baseline of “teenager” has shifted. See Melinda’s post right above that you simply ignored to answer or address...
“12 years ago, 15 year old American teens looked like 15 year olds. Now 12 year old American girls look like they are 17.”
The main reason being higher percentage of bodyfat due to more sedentary lifestyles - something gymnasts from all countries do not suffer from.
I will repeat my observations.
Chinese girls who are adopted by americans and placed in gymnastics programs will not appear to be 10 years old when they are really 16.
16 year olds from any country will not retain baby teeth.
16 year old chinese gymnasts, in past olympic games (except for Athens) looked older than these girls.
“12 years ago, 15 year old American teens looked like 15 year olds. Now 12 year old American girls look like they are 17.
Our baseline of “teenager” has shifted. See Melinda’s post right above that you simply ignored to answer or address...”
What a completely ignorant comment. One woman’s granddaughter does not prove a “shift in baseline.” There are debates over whether a larger number of girls are entering puberty earlier in the past, but that’s vastly far away from a “shift in baseline.” If we’d had one, her daughter wouldn’t be MISTAKEN for a high-school senior, she’d be MISTAKEN for someone roughly her own age.