Growth Pituitary gland

Growth Hormone (GH)

Written by the VitaWhat editorial team · Medically reviewed by Steve Davis · Last reviewed 19 July 2026 · Editorial policy

Drives growth in childhood and tissue repair and metabolism in adults.

What it does

  • Promotes growth of bone and muscle in children
  • Supports repair, muscle and fat metabolism in adults

Too much

  • Excess causes gigantism in children or acromegaly (enlarged hands, feet, jaw) in adults

Too little

  • Deficiency slows growth in children and causes fatigue and reduced muscle in adults
Keeping it balanced: Deep sleep and resistance exercise naturally support growth-hormone release.

Sources & references

  1. You and Your Hormones (Society for Endocrinology)
  2. NHS — Hormonal conditions

Think a hormone may be out of balance?

The symptoms of hormonal excess and deficiency are non-specific — tiredness, weight change, low mood and poor sleep have many everyday causes. No hormone problem can be self-diagnosed from a symptom list.

Diagnosis needs blood tests interpreted alongside your history, sometimes repeated at set times of day because many hormones vary hour to hour. Speak to a GP if symptoms are persistent; seek urgent care for severe symptoms such as confusion, fainting, chest pain or extreme thirst with frequent urination.

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