Growth Hormone Increases With Exercise

Increases With Exercise

Growth hormone (GH) is a vital anabolic hormone for promoting growth during childhood. It also helps control protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism in adults at rest and during exercise. A review of literature from the University of Virginia, led by Art Weltman, concluded that growth hormone release increased with the intensity of exercise. GH release was higher in women than men but decreased four to seven times as people aged. GH release during exercise is lower in obese people than in lean people. Also, fatty meals consumed shortly before exercise reduce GH release and decreases the beneficial effects of exercise on fat metabolism and weight loss. (Sports Medicine, 32: 987-1004)