Effects of various exercise types on inflammatory response in individuals with overweight and obesity: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: To explore effective exercise types for reducing chronic inflammation in individuals with overweight and obesity (IOO) while accounting for confounders.

Methods: A systematic search for RCTs in English between January 2000 and August 2023 was conducted to evaluating exercise effects on inflammatory biomarkers in IOO. A network meta-analysis conducted.

Results: A total of 123 RCTs were analyzed. Different exercise type yielded distinct effects on various inflammatory biomarkers. Specifically, aerobic exercise combined with resistance training (COM) and aerobic exercise (AE) were the most effective for improving leptin levels. AE exhibited the greatest effectiveness in reducing CRP and increasing adiponectin. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) was identified as the most effective exercise modality for ameliorating IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-10. Resistance training (RT) had the least effect compared to other exercise types. Meta regression and subgroup analyses revealed that high-intensity AE demonstrated a greater effect size compared to moderate-intensity AE. The impact of AE on IL-10 was positively associated with both the training period and the age of participants. Positive correlations were observed between reductions in body fat and the effect sizes of CRP, TNF-α, and IL-10. Gender influenced AE effects on IL-6 and TNF-α, with females responding better.

Conclusion: This study highlights the potential of exercise in alleviating the inflammatory status in IOO, with different exercise types showing various effects on specific inflammatory biomarkers. The intensity and duration of exercise had a dose-response relationship with intervention effectiveness. Changes in body composition correlated with the effectiveness of the intervention. COM, AE, and HIIT are recommended exercise approaches.