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Reduced Growth Hormone Response to Anaerobic Exercise Among Children With Overweight and Obesity

Duha Hejla1, Nitzan Dror, Michal Pantanowitz

  • 1Child Health and Sports Center, Pediatric Department, Meir Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
|September 8, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Children with overweight and obesity show a reduced growth hormone (GH) response to anaerobic exercise compared to normal-weight children. This suggests that anaerobic interval training may not be optimal for stimulating GH in obese youth.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Obesity Research

Background:

  • Growth hormone (GH) is crucial for childhood development.
  • Overweight and obesity can impact endocrine function.
  • The effect of anaerobic exercise on GH secretion in pediatric populations with overweight/obesity is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the GH secretion response to a modified Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT) in children with overweight/obesity versus normal-weight children.
  • To determine if anaerobic exercise adequately stimulates GH release in overweight and obese children.

Main Methods:

  • A modified repeated Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT) was administered to 15 children with overweight/obesity and 10 normal-weight children.
  • Blood samples were collected pre-exercise and at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes post-exercise to measure GH and lactate levels.

Main Results:

  • Both groups showed a significant increase in GH levels post-exercise.
  • The increase in GH levels was significantly greater in normal-weight children compared to those with overweight/obesity (p < 0.003).
  • Fewer overweight/obese children (2/15) reached the GH sufficiency threshold compared to normal-weight children (7/10).

Conclusions:

  • Children with overweight and obesity exhibit a blunted GH response to anaerobic exercise.
  • Anaerobic interval-type training may be insufficient to stimulate adequate GH levels in this population.
  • Further research is needed to identify optimal exercise strategies for GH stimulation in pediatric obesity.

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