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Evidence for energy conservation during pubertal growth. A 10-year longitudinal study (EarlyBird 71)

International Journal of Obesity volume 40, pages 1619–1626 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

Background:

Diabetes is closely linked to obesity, and obesity rates climb during adolescence for reasons that are not clear. Energy efficiency is important to obesity, and we describe a temporary but substantial fall in absolute energy expenditure, compatible with improved energy efficiency, during the rapid growth phase of puberty.

Methods:

In a longitudinal cohort study lasting 10 years, we measured voluntary energy expenditure as physical activity (PA) by accelerometry, involuntary energy expenditure as resting energy expenditure (REE) by oxygen consumption, body mass index (BMI) and body composition by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry annually on 10 occasions from 7 to 16 years in the 347 children of the EarlyBird study. We used mixed effects modelling to analyse the trends in REE and their relationship to BMI, lean mass (LM), fat mass (FM), age, PA and pubertal stage.

Results:

Relative REE and total PA fell during puberty, as previously described, but the longitudinal data and narrow age-range of the cohort (s.d.±4m) revealed for the first time a substantial fall in absolute REE during the period of maximum growth. The fall became clearer still when adjusted for FM and LM. The fall could not be explained by fasting insulin, adiponectin, leptin, luteinising hormone or follicle stimulating hormone.

Conclusions:

There appears to be a temporary but substantial reduction in energy expenditure during puberty, which is unrelated to changes in body composition. If it means higher energy efficiency, the fall in REE could be advantageous in an evolutionary context to delivering the extra energy needed for pubertal growth, but unfavourable to weight gain in a contemporary environment.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the help of Karen Brookes and Val Morgan in maintaining the EarlyBird cohort. We are grateful to the Bright futures trust, Fountain Foundation, BUPA Foundation, EarlyBird Diabetes Trust and countless individual donors who made this study possible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Health Research, Plymouth University Peninsula School of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth, UK

    M Mostazir & T Wilkin

  2. Wellcome Trust Biomedical Informatics Hub, College of Life and Environmental Sciences (CLES), University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

    M Mostazir

  3. Department Endocrinology and Metabolism, Plymouth University Peninsula School of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth, UK

    A Jeffery, J Hosking & L Voss

  4. Institute of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

    B Metcalf

Authors
  1. M Mostazir
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  2. A Jeffery
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  4. B Metcalf
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  5. L Voss
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  6. T Wilkin
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Correspondence to T Wilkin.

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Mostazir, M., Jeffery, A., Hosking, J. et al. Evidence for energy conservation during pubertal growth. A 10-year longitudinal study (EarlyBird 71). Int J Obes 40, 1619–1626 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2016.158

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2016.158

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