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Review
. 2017 Apr;41(4):475-482.
doi: 10.1038/ijo.2016.230. Epub 2016 Dec 26.

Exercise, adipokines and pediatric obesity: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

A García-Hermoso  1 , R J M Ceballos-Ceballos  1 , C E Poblete-Aro  1 , A C Hackney  2 , J Mota  3 , R Ramírez-Vélez  4
Affiliations
Review

Exercise, adipokines and pediatric obesity: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

A García-Hermoso et al. Int J Obes (Lond). 2017 Apr.

Abstract

Background/objective: Adipokines are involved in the etiology of diabetes, insulin resistance, and the development of atherosclerosis and other latent-onset complications. The objective of this meta-analysis was to determine the effectiveness of exercise interventions on adipokines in pediatric obesity.

Subjects/methods: A computerized search was made using three databases. The analysis was restricted to studies that examined the effect of exercise interventions on adipokines (adiponectin, leptin, resistin and visfatin) in pediatric obesity (6-18 years old). Fourteen randomized controlled trials (347 youths) were included. Weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.

Results: Exercise was associated with a significant increase in adiponectin (WMD=0.882 μg ml-1, 95% CI, 0.271-1.493) but did not alter leptin and resistin level. Likewise, exercise intensity and change in body fat; as well as total exercise program duration, duration of the sessions, and change in body fat all significantly influenced the effect of exercise on adiponectin and leptin, respectively.

Conclusions: Exercise seems to increase adiponectin levels in childhood obesity. Our results also suggested that exercise on its own, without the concomitant presence of changes in body composition levels, does not affect leptin levels.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart for identification of trials for inclusion in the meta-analysis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Absolute changes in adiponectin, leptin, and resistin levels in individual studies of exercise group vs control group. HIIT indicates High-Intensity Interval Training. MIIT indicates Moderate-Intensity Interval Training.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Exercise training–induced adipokines have an endocrine effect and improve whole-body metabolism. We propose a model whereby exercise causes release adipokines (decrease leptin and resistin, and increasing adiponectin), which can act in an endocrine manner to improve metabolism in skeletal muscle, white adipose tissue and liver.
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