Inter-individual differences in body mass index were not observed as a result of aerobic exercise in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity

Pediatr Obes. 2021 Jan;16(1):e12692. doi: 10.1111/ijpo.12692. Epub 2020 Jul 13.

Abstract

Background: Exercise has been recommended as an important intervention for reducing adiposity in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity.

Objective: Determine whether inter-individual differences exist in relation to exercise-induced changes in adiposity among children and adolescents with overweight and obesity.

Methods: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled aerobic exercise trials and body mass index (BMI) in kg · m-2 . Change outcome standard deviations were pooled using the inverse-variance heterogeneity model.

Results: Twenty-eight studies (1185 participants) were included. Inter-individual differences in BMI were -0.1 (95% compatibility interval, -0.7 to 0.7). The 95% prediction interval for inter-individual responses in a future study was -2.9 to 2.9. The probability of a clinically meaningful difference in variability was 29% (possibly clinically important) in favour of controls vs exercisers.

Conclusions: Inter-individual differences for BMI in kg · m-2 were not observed as a result of aerobic exercise in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity.

Keywords: adolescents; children; exercise; meta-analysis; obesity.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adiposity*
  • Adolescent
  • Body Mass Index*
  • Child
  • Exercise Therapy / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pediatric Obesity / pathology
  • Pediatric Obesity / physiopathology
  • Pediatric Obesity / therapy*
  • Precision Medicine
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Treatment Outcome