Gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue therapy in girls with idiopathic precocious puberty/early-fast puberty: dynamics in adiposity indices, eating habits and quality of life

Background: The impact of gonadotropin-releasinghormone-analogue (GnRHa) treatment on weight and body composition is controversial. Exploring the nutritional, psychological patterns of this population may aid to clarify this propensity to gain weight. This prospective observational study aimed to evaluate longitudinal changes in adiposity, nutrition and quality of life in girls with central precocious/early-fast puberty (CPP/EFP) during GnRHa treatment. Methods: Thirty-two GnRHa-treated girls with CPP/EFP and 27 prepubertal girls (7-10 years) were included in the analysis. Outcome measures assessed at baseline for CPP/EFP and the control groups and during up to two years of GnRHa treatment for the CPP/EFP group, included anthropometrics, body-composition, basal-metabolic-rate BMR), 3-day food-diaries, child eating-behavior questionnaire, and pediatric quality-of-life questionnaire (PedsQL). Results: Girls with CPP/EFP had higher pretreatment BMI-SDS, fat percentages, waist circumference and waist-per-height (p<0.01 for all), and lower psychosocial functioning than controls (p<0.05). Changes in anthropometric and body composition measurements indicated a gradual increase in adiposity and a decrease in muscle mass (p<0.001 for all). Dynamics in body composition could not be explained by the participants' self-reported dietary patterns and physical activity levels or by the measured BMR, which revealed an adequate and relatively low energy intake as compared to energy requirements. A gradual decline in physical functioning (PedsQL) after one and two years of GnRHa treatment was observed (p<0.001). Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need for comprehensive surveillance in girls with CPP/EFP. Dynamics in weight status and body composition during GnRHa treatment indicate the need for tailored nutritional and physical activity counseling aimed at preventing obesity.