Clinical Scorecard: Effects of Different Exercise Modalities on Immunometabolic Markers in Obese Postmenopausal Women: A Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• Resistance training (RT) showed the largest reduction in systemic C-reactive protein (CRP).
• Combined training (CT) was most effective in reducing interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).
• Aerobic training (AT) also contributed to reductions in inflammatory markers but to a lesser extent than RT and CT.
• High-intensity interval training (HIIT) showed sparse evidence with wide credible intervals.
• Systemic leptin levels remained unchanged across exercise modalities.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

• Clinical verification of postmenopausal status and adiposity is required.

Management

• Exercise prescriptions should be biomarker-guided, focusing on RT for CRP reduction and CT for IL-6 and TNF-α attenuation.

Monitoring & Follow-up

• Regular assessment of inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, IL-6, TNF-α) is recommended.

Risks

• Low to very low certainty of evidence necessitates cautious interpretation of exercise modality efficacy.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity

Distinct exercise modalities elicit specific immunomodulatory effects; RT and CT are particularly beneficial.

Clinical Best Practices

• Incorporate a variety of exercise modalities to target specific inflammatory markers.
• Monitor patient responses to exercise interventions through biomarker assessments.
• Educate patients on the importance of exercise in managing chronic inflammation.

References

• Systematic Review Registration