To provide a narrative overview of the effects of physical exercise on specific fat depots in the pediatric population, highlighting the implications for health outcomes.
Key Findings:
Moderate-to-vigorous aerobic or combined aerobic and resistance training effectively reduces visceral, subcutaneous, hepatic, and intermuscular fat, which are critical for improving health outcomes.
Limited data suggest potential benefits of specific exercise modalities for pancreatic and bone marrow fat, indicating a need for further exploration.
Research on epicardial fat is virtually absent, highlighting a significant gap in the literature.
Most studies lack detailed reporting on exercise dose, limiting conclusions on dose-response relationships and their implications for practice.
Interpretation:
Exercise is a promising strategy for reducing specific fat depots in children and adolescents with obesity, but further research is needed to clarify optimal exercise parameters and their health implications.
Limitations:
Limited data on pancreatic and bone marrow fat, which may affect the understanding of their role in health.
Scarcity of research on epicardial fat, indicating a critical gap in knowledge.
Lack of detailed reporting on exercise dose in most studies, which limits conclusions regarding dose-response relationships and their impact on health.
Conclusion:
Further research is strongly needed to determine the optimal modality, frequency, duration, and intensity of exercise required to target specific fat depots in children, addressing the identified gaps in the current literature.
by Cristina Cadenas-Sanchez, David Rodriguez-Sanchez, Maria Herrada-Robles, Maria Bermudez-Cordoba, Gemma Bermejo-Martínez, Maria Atencia-Rodriguez, Unai Azcárate, Marta Ortiz-Gómez, Jesús García-Arive, Maddi Osés, María Medrano
