Resting Energy Expenditure and Metabolic Features in Children With Septo-Optic Dysplasia

David J Cullingford^{1

2

3}, Jacqueline A Curran¹, Mary B Abraham^{1

2

4}, Aris Siafarikas^{1

2

3

5

6}, A Marie Blackmore², Jenny Downs^{2

7}, Catherine S Y Choong^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
² The Centre for Child Health Research, The Kids Research Institute Australia, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
³ Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
⁴ The Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
⁵ Institute of Health Research, University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, WA 6160, Australia.
⁶ School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Mount Lawley, WA 6050, Australia.
⁷ Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6845, Australia.

PMID: 40104567
PMCID: PMC11914970
DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvaf031

Resting Energy Expenditure and Metabolic Features in Children With Septo-Optic Dysplasia

David J Cullingford et al. J Endocr Soc. 2025.

. 2025 Feb 24;9(4):bvaf031.

doi: 10.1210/jendso/bvaf031. eCollection 2025 Mar 3.

Authors

David J Cullingford^{1

2

3}, Jacqueline A Curran¹, Mary B Abraham^{1

2

4}, Aris Siafarikas^{1

2

3

5

6}, A Marie Blackmore², Jenny Downs^{2

7}, Catherine S Y Choong^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
² The Centre for Child Health Research, The Kids Research Institute Australia, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
³ Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
⁴ The Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
⁵ Institute of Health Research, University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, WA 6160, Australia.
⁶ School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Mount Lawley, WA 6050, Australia.
⁷ Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6845, Australia.

PMID: 40104567
PMCID: PMC11914970
DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvaf031

Abstract

Context: Septo-optic dysplasia (SOD) is a major cause of congenital hypopituitarism and is known to be associated with overweight and obesity in up to 44% of children. Given the role of the hypothalamus in hormonal regulation, we sought to assess the association of resting energy expenditure (REE), appetite and physical activity with SOD.

Objective: To characterize REE and other metabolic features in patients with SOD and evaluate relationships with elevated body mass index (BMI).

Methods: Children with SOD above 5 years of age attending Perth Children's Hospital participated. A CosMED Q-NRG indirect calorimeter was used to calculate mean measure REE (mREE). This was compared with predictive REE (pREE) based on the Schofield equation to determine mREE/pREE quotient. A BMI z-score >1 was considered elevated. Parents/carers completed a questionnaire about pituitary function, the Hyperphagia Questionnaire and the Sleep Disturbances Scale for Children (SDSC).

Results: Twenty-six participants underwent testing (9 female, mean age 12.1 years) with 11 having elevated BMI and 15 with pituitary hormone deficiencies. Mean mREE was 1309 kcal/day (838-1732), mREE/pREE quotient was 88.8% ± 10.1. mREE/pREE quotient was similar in those with elevated BMI compared with normal BMI (83.3% ± 12.5 vs 92.1% ± 7.2, P = .068). Those with midline defects had a higher mREE/pREE quotient (91.8% ± 8.1 vs 80.4% ± 11.3, P = .026). Hyperphagia and SDSC scores were similar between BMI groups. Hyperphagia domain scores were higher in children with multiple hypopituitarism, pituitary structural defects, and normal septum pellucidum (P = .044, .042, and .033, respectively).

Conclusion: Children with SOD had lower mREE than predicted and hyperphagia scores were higher in those with biochemical or structural pituitary changes, suggesting that hypothalamic dysfunction could drive BMI elevation in SOD. Indirect calorimetry may be used to guide the management of overweight and obesity in SOD.

Keywords: hyperphagia; hypopituitarism; hypothalamic dysfunction; overweight and obesity; resting energy expenditure; septo-optic dysplasia.

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Figures

**Figure 1.**
Enrollment of participants and description of groups used for analysis. Description of group with number of participants included in brackets.

See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

1. Cullingford DJ, Siafarikas A, Choong CS, et al. Genetic etiology of congenital hypopituitarism. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Blackman MR, eds. Endotext. 2023:7‐12.
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Resting Energy Expenditure and Metabolic Features in Children With Septo-Optic Dysplasia

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Resting Energy Expenditure and Metabolic Features in Children With Septo-Optic Dysplasia

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References

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