EFFECT OF OBESITY CONTROL ON GROWTH

生长激素对儿童的正常生长很重要，但其作用机制尚不清楚。 它可能是生长激素的几种形式产生，但不是所有的形式可以在目前用于测量生长激素的血液含量的测试中识别。 这项研究将通过使用一种新的生物测定法测量生长激素的血液浓度来确定青春期生长激素的形式是否随营养变化而变化。 还将研究体重减轻对增加生长激素浓度和生物活性的影响。 将进行基线激素研究，其中通过留置导管每15分钟采集一次血液，持续24小时。 然后，心理学家和营养学家将进行为期12周的干预，以促进减肥。 干预后，将再次采集血液24小时。 这些研究可能对改善儿童生长有实际应用价值，因为可以定义新的生长障碍类别。 如果能够确定具有增强生物效力的生长激素形式，我们就能够设计出新的药物来产生更好的生长。 我们也许能够更好地了解生长激素在新陈代谢中的作用。

Growth hormone is important in producing normal growth in children, but the means by which it does so are not known. It may be that several forms of growth hormone are produced, but not all the forms can be recognized in the tests presently used to measure the blood content of growth hormone. This research will determine whether the forms of growth hormone change with nutritional changes at puberty by measuring blood concentrations of growth hormone using a new biological assay. The effect of weight loss to increase growth hormone concentration and biological activity will also be studied. Baseline hormone studies will be performed where blood is obtained through an indwelling catheter every 15 minutes for 24 hours. Then a 12 week intervention will be given by a psychologist and nutritionist to promote weight loss. Following the intervention, blood will again be obtained for 24 hours. These studies may have practical applications for improving growth in children, since new categories for growth failure may be defined. If growth hormone forms with enhanced biological potency can be determined, we may be able to design new drugs to produce better growth. We may be able to better understand the role of growth hormone in metabolism.