Physical activity as measured by accelerometry in children receiving growth hormone

M.B. Hoos*, K.R. Westerterp, H. Kuipers, L.W.T. Schuwirth, W.J. Gerver

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

54 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

AIM: Parents of children treated with growth hormone (GH) frequently report to the paediatrician that their children have become more physically active. In the present study, activity patterns of GH-treated children were measured and compared to those of healthy controls. METHODS: Subjects were 25 children at the start of GH treatment (age 8.4 +/- 2.6 y) and 19 age- and gender-matched controls (age 8.8 +/- 3.2 y). Physical activity was assessed with a tri-axial accelerometer for movement registration over two separate 2-wk intervals, one before the start of GH treatment and one 2 wk after the start of treatment. GH-treated subjects were categorized as poor responders (change in height over 1 y <0.7 SDS, n = 15) or good responders (change in height over 1 y >0.7 SDS, n = 10). RESULTS: Before therapy, good responders showed a significantly lower physical activity compared to healthy controls, spending significantly less time on high-intensity activities. This difference disappeared 2 wk after the start of therapy. Physical activity in poor responders was not significantly different from controls before and after 2 wk of GH therapy. CONCLUSION: Children who respond well to GH therapy (change in height >0.7 SDS) showed a reduced amount of physical activity before therapy, which was normalized after 2 wk of GH therapy.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1307-1311
JournalActa Paediatrica
Volume93
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2004

Cite this