Physical Activity Among Youth Receiving Gender-Affirming Treatment in the United States

Physical activity is important in the development of mental and physical well-being during childhood. We aimed to investigate physical activity levels among early pubertal youth presenting for gender-affirming care. Among 93 participants 8-14 years of age, who had physical activity level measured using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C), participants designated male at birth had lower levels of physical activity than participants designated female at birth both before starting gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog treatment and during gender-affirming medical treatment (baseline PAQ-C scores 2.24 +/- 0.73 vs. 2.67 +/- 0.73, p=0.006).