A new study reveals that like girls, even boys have been maturing physically much earlier than their earlier generations.

The study had used mortality data to calculate the boys’ peak testosterone-driven phase and the results have exposed that boys have been maturing about 2.5 months earlier per 100 years, if calculated from the 1700s. The data of many countries was used including the UK, Norway and Italy.

Study author Joshua Goldstein stated: "Being 18 today is like being 22 in 1800". Earlier, a lot of studies had revealed that the girls were maturing faster than their age and they reach puberty earlier than the time they should.

Researchers feel that the changing lifestyles, better nutrition and more body fat have been the major factors that contribute to the earlier maturation trend. However, the average onset of puberty in boys has not been identified.

"The reason for earlier maturity for boys, as with girls, is probably because nutrition and disease environments are getting more favourable for it", Goldstein said.

Goldstein added that though these adolescents become mature earlier but the age at which people prefer marriages, children, begin their careers and become financially independent from their parents has been increasing.