The impact of exercise training on vascular function in children and adolescents with overweigh and obesity: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Khalafi, Mousa; Tabatabaei, Fatemeh-Sadat; Hosseini, Fatemeh-Sadat; Ghasemi, Faeghe

doi:10.22038/mjms.2025.85366.4898

The impact of exercise training on vascular function in children and adolescents with overweigh and obesity: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Articles in Press

Document Type : Review article

Authors

Mousa khalafi ¹

Fatemeh-Sadat Tabatabaei ¹

Fatemeh-Sadat Hosseini ¹

Faeghe Ghasemi ²

¹ Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran

² Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Guilan, Guilan, Iran

10.22038/mjms.2025.85366.4898

Abstract

Introduction: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of exercise training on flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in overweight and obese children and adolescents
Materials and Methods. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in three electronic databases including Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science until April 2023 using keywords such as "exercise training", "endothelial function", "children and adolescents", and "obesity". Weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using a random effects model to compare exercise training with the control group. Also, subgroup analysis was performed based on the duration of exercise intervention and the age of the subjects (age up to 10 years and age 10 to 18 years).
Results. A total of 379 overweight and obese children and adolescents from 9 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Exercise training significantly increased FMD compared to control [WMD: 1.36 (CI: 0.12 to 2.61), P=0.03], but had no significant effect on body weight [WMD: -0.54 (CI: -0.56 to -1.64), P=0.33]. Subgroup analysis by intervention duration showed that short-term interventions had a significant positive effect on FMD [WMD: 1.51 (CI: 0.17 to 2.84), P=0.02], while subgroup analysis by age showed no significant difference.
Conclusion. The results of the present study confirm that exercise can improve vascular function in overweight and obese children and adolescents without the need for weight loss and is effective as a non-pharmacological strategy in preventing cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords

Exercise training

Vascular function

Obesity

children and adolescents

Subjects