Children and adolescents growing up with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are less fit
than their peers, says a study by researchers at McMaster University and the McMaster
Children's Hospital.

The study, published in the Journal of Pediatrics online, shows children and youth
with
the most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease have aerobic fitness levels 25
per cent lower than other children their age, and their muscle function is 10 per cent
lower.

“Raising a child with a chronic condition is challenging, but we need to look at
more
than just 'fixing the child' and think about active living to reduce the risk of future
health problems,” said principal investigator Brian Timmons of the Child Health and
Exercise Medicine Program at the University and hospital.

The study showed that patients with inflammatory bowel disease in remission also
have
poor fitness that may start at an early age.

Fitness during childhood is an important predictor of adult health, said Timmons.
“Closer attention needs to be paid to the physical activity levels and participation habits
of youth with IBD. This starts with the child's doctor.”

Investigators at the Child Health & Exercise Medicine Program and the Centre for
Child
and Youth Digestive Health teamed up to measure aerobic fitness and muscle function
in patients with either Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, the most common forms of
inflammatory bowel disease, while they were in remission. The prevalence of
inflammatory bowel disease among Canadian youth is between 18 and 70 per 100,000,
depending on the province.

Timmons said the study confirms that patients should be encouraged to be as
active as
possible and families should be provided resources about active living. Clinicians who
specialize in pediatric IBD should consider referring patients with IBD for exercise
testing and involvement of an activity therapist or physiotherapist in the clinical
management of these youth.

He said there are no specific recommended activities, but “patients are likely to
benefit
from a variety of activities and sports that they find enjoyable and fun.”

The study will be published in print later this spring.