The Effect of Simple Obesity on Growth and Growth Hormone

Abstract

Simple obesity is characterized by a normal or increased growth rate with an acceleration of bone age maturation. When longitudinal growth slows down in the presence of obesity, a hormonal disturbance should be sought. Despite normal growth, simple obesity is characterized by a reduced GH secretion evaluated by standard provocative tests, the administration of GH-releasing hormone or spontaneous 24-hour secretion. In obese children GH secretion may be as low as in poorly growing children with classical GH deficiency. The endocrine abnormalities along the GH axis seem to involve complex mechanisms at the hypothalamic, pituitary and peripheral level. Recent data suggest that simple obesity is associated with an increase in GH clearance and a decrease in GH synthesis and secretion. It is also associated with high insulin and insulin-like growth factor I levels which may interfere in the complex endocrine interactions. In conclusion, simple obesity is characterized by normal growth in the presence of ‘hyposomatotropism’.

Role of obesity and leptin in the pubertal process and pubertal growth—a review

“…[61][62][63] Measurements performed during sleep and over 24 h have shown that GH secretion in obese children is reduced not only under physiological conditions, but also following pharmacologic stimulation with insulin, clonidine, arginine, levodopa, glucagon, GH-releasing hormone, and opiate peptides, much like in children with GH deficiency. 64 Despite the reduction in circulating GH levels, obese children may have normal, increased or reduced, plasma IGF-I and GH-binding protein levels.…”

Bone Mineral Response to a 7-Month Randomized Controlled, School-Based Jumping Intervention in 121 Prepubertal Boys: Associations With Ethnicity and Body Mass Index

“…The complex relationships between hormones including growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) 1, maturation, obesity, and exercise pose interesting possibilities for explaining the skeletal response to exercise in heavy children. (12,(51)(52)(53)(54)(55) However, we did not evaluate hormone levels in this study. Further endocrinological research may be warranted to explore the mechanisms that control bone metabolism in overweight boys.…”

Energy homeostasis targets chromosomal reconfiguration of the human GH1 locus

“…Growth hormone (GH) insufficiency is considered a typical feature of obesity, regardless of age and gender (1). This is in addition to a spectrum of other significant metabolic derangements, including changes in levels of and/or peripheral responsiveness to multiple endocrine factors, as defined by hyperinsulinemia, hyperleptinemia, hyperglycemia, and high levels of free fatty acids (2,3).…”