IBD Impact on Kids’ Fitness Levels: A Detailed Analysis

Paediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Physical Fitness: A Comprehensive Overview

Individuals diagnosed with paediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often experience reduced cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular fitness compared to their healthy counterparts. Factors such as higher body mass index (BMI) for children and adolescents can negatively impact cardiorespiratory fitness. Interestingly, the use of any biologic medication could be positively associated with fitness levels.

Understanding the Research Methodology

This case-control study primarily focused on evaluating cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular fitness in paediatric IBD patients aged between 6-17 years. The study involved 73 patients with paediatric IBD (average age, 13 years; 56.2% were girls) comprising 31 patients with Crohn’s disease, and 42 with ulcerative colitis. These patients were compared with 73 age- and sex-matched healthy children from an ongoing study and registry.

Assessing Fitness and Disease Activity

Disease activity was gauged using the Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index for UC patients and the Pediatric Crohn’s Disease Activity Index for CD patients. Physical activity data were gathered using a comprehensive questionnaire covering various activities over the past 12 months. Fitness metrics such as peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and maximal workload (Wmax) divided by body weight were used as measures of cardiorespiratory fitness. In addition, neuromuscular fitness was evaluated through separate tests.

Key Findings and Implications

Most patients with CD were either in remission or exhibited mild disease activity, whereas 69% of patients with UC were in remission. Paediatric IBD patients had notably lower cardiorespiratory fitness, with reduced Wmax/kg (P = .007) and VO2peak/kg (P < .001) compared to control participants. Lower neuromuscular fitness was also evident in these patients, as demonstrated by their performance in the sit-up, long jump, and hand grip strength tests (P = .001 for all). High age- and sex-adjusted BMI was linked to lower Wmax/kg and VO2peak/kg (P < .001 for both), whereas the use of biologic medication was associated with higher Wmax/kg (P = .025) and VO2peak/kg (P = .006).

Applying Findings in Practice

Lower physical fitness has been connected with poorer disease control, diminished quality of life, and an elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases in paediatric IBD patients. Hence, assessing and improving physical fitness becomes an essential part of their multidisciplinary treatment.

Source and Limitations

This study was led by Saija Kantanen from Tampere University Hospital, Finland, and was published online on May 30, 2025, in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. Some considerations include the fact that data from the control group were previously collected, meaning changes in physical activity levels over time may have influenced the results. The duration of the disease in patients was short, and the design was cross-sectional.

Disclosures

The study was funded by various organisations, including the Foundation for Pediatric Research; the State Funding for University-level Health Research, Tampere University Hospital, Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa; the Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation; and the Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

This article was developed using a combination of editorial tools, including AI. Human editors reviewed the content before publication.