Effects of exercise on specific fat depots in the pediatric population: a narrative overview
Objectives: To provide a narrative overview of the effects of physical exercise on specific fat depots in the pediatric population. Design: Narrative review. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature search of studies investigating the effects of exercise interventions on distinct fat depots,...
| Autores: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universidad Pública de Navarra |
| Repositorio: | Academica-e. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad Pública de Navarra |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:academica-e.unavarra.es:2454/55986 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/2454/55986 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Aerobic Resistance Physical activity Ectopic fat Children Adolescents |
| Sumario: | Objectives: To provide a narrative overview of the effects of physical exercise on specific fat depots in the pediatric population. Design: Narrative review. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature search of studies investigating the effects of exercise interventions on distinct fat depots, including visceral, subcutaneous, hepatic, intermuscular, pancreatic, bone marrow, and epicardial fat, in the pediatric population. Evidence from randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses was included, with emphasis on exercise modality (aerobic, resistance, or combined) and exercise dose (frequency, duration, and intensity). Results: The evidence supports the effectiveness of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic or combined aerobic and resistance training in reducing visceral, subcutaneous, hepatic, and intermuscular fat. For pancreatic and bone marrow fat, limited data suggest potential benefits of specific exercise modalities, although findings remain scarce. Research on epicardial fat is virtually absent. Moreover, most studies lack detailed reporting on exercise dose, which limits conclusions regarding dose-response relationships. Conclusions: The present narrative review highlights the emerging role of exercise as a promising strategy for reducing specific fat depots in children and adolescents living with obesity. Further research is strongly needed to clarify the optimal modality, frequency, duration, and intensity of exercise required to target these specific fat depots. |
|---|