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Evidence for energy conservation during pubertal growth. A 10-year longitudinal study (EarlyBird 71)
M Mostazir1,2, A Jeffery3, J Hosking3
1Institute of Health Research, Plymouth University Peninsula School of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth, UK.
International Journal of Obesity (2005)
|September 9, 2016
Summary
During puberty, children experience a temporary drop in energy expenditure, potentially increasing energy efficiency. This finding may explain weight gain in modern environments despite evolutionary advantages for growth.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Human Physiology
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Obesity rates increase during adolescence, linked to diabetes, but underlying reasons remain unclear.
- Energy efficiency plays a role in obesity development.
- A temporary, significant decrease in energy expenditure during puberty's growth phase suggests improved energy efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in energy expenditure during adolescent development.
- To explore the relationship between energy expenditure, body composition, and pubertal stage.
- To identify factors influencing energy expenditure during rapid growth.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal cohort study of 347 children over 10 years (ages 7-16).
- Annual measurements of physical activity (PA), resting energy expenditure (REE), BMI, and body composition (DXA).
- Mixed effects modeling used to analyze trends in REE and relationships with various factors.
Main Results:
- Absolute resting energy expenditure (REE) significantly decreased during peak pubertal growth, a novel finding.
- This fall in REE was more pronounced after adjusting for fat mass (FM) and lean mass (LM).
- The reduction in REE was independent of hormonal factors like insulin, adiponectin, leptin, LH, and FSH.
Conclusions:
- A substantial, temporary reduction in energy expenditure occurs during puberty, unrelated to body composition changes.
- This decrease may represent enhanced energy efficiency, beneficial for evolutionary growth but detrimental for weight management in modern environments.
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