Exploring the effects of exercise on overall adiposity, targeted fat depots, and cardiometabolic risk in children with obesity

ABSTRACT Previous evidence has highlighted the role of exercise interventions in improving the health of children with overweight/obesity. This article provides an overview of the current understanding regarding exercise interventions and their impact on overall adiposity, specific fat depots, and cardiometabolic health in children with overweight/obesity. Aerobic exercise alone and combined with resistance training have been shown to improve adiposity. Furthermore, these interventions have demonstrated a significant capacity to reduce fat accumulation in various fat depots, with reductions of up to 20% in accumulated fat, potentially leading to significant cardiovascular benefits. Similar positive effects have been observed on diverse cardiometabolic health outcomes including lipids profiles, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, and overall cardiometabolic risk in children with overweight/obesity. Data from longitudinal studies also show that promoting regular physical activity from a young age is crucial for improving long-term cardiorespiratory fitness and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases later in life. This review concludes that exercise interventions yield significant positive effects on overall adiposity, specific fat depots, and cardiometabolic health factors in children with overweight/obesity.