Effect of exercise on cardiometabolic health of adults with overweight or obesity: Focus on blood pressure, insulin resistance, and intrahepatic fat-A systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review examined the impact of exercise intervention programs on selected cardiometabolic health indicators in adults with overweight or obesity. Three electronic databases were explored for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that included adults with overweight or obesity and provided exercise-training interventions. Effects on blood pressure, insulin resistance (homeostasis model of insulin resistance, HOMA-IR), and magnetic resonance measures of intrahepatic fat in exercise versus control groups were analyzed using random effects meta-analyses. Fifty-four articles matched inclusion criteria. Exercise training reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure (mean difference, MD = -2.95 mmHg [95% CI -4.22, -1.68], p < 0.00001, I-2 = 63% and MD = -1.93 mmHg [95% CI -2.73, -1.13], p < 0.00001, I-2 = 54%, 60 and 58 study arms, respectively). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased also when considering only subjects with hypertension. Exercise training significantly decreased HOMA-IR (standardized mean difference, SMD = -0.34 [-0.49, -0.18], p < 0.0001, I-2 = 48%, 37 study arms), with higher effect size in subgroup of patients with type 2 diabetes (SMD = -0.50 [95% CI: -0.83, -0.17], p = 0.003, I-2 = 39%). Intrahepatic fat decreased significantly after exercise interventions (SMD = -0.59 [95% CI: -0.78, -0.41], p < 0.00001, I-2 = 0%), with a larger effect size after high-intensity interval training. In conclusion, exercise training is effective in improving cardiometabolic health in adults with overweight or obesity also when living with comorbitidies.

Automated summary

This systematic review found that exercise intervention programs can effectively improve cardiometabolic health indicators in adults with overweight or obesity, including reducing blood pressure, insulin resistance, and intrahepatic fat.