Resistance Exercise for Body Composition in Children Who Are Overweight or Obese.
Anderson Rech, Regis Radaelli, Douglas J P Turella et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined randomized controlled trials of resistance-based exercise in children and adolescents classified as overweight or obese. Across 24 trials involving 846 participants, resistance exercise was associated with reductions in fat mass (-2.06 kg), body fat percentage (-2.1%), and body weight (-1.3 kg), alongside an increase in lean mass (+0.8 kg). Effects were small to moderate. The analysis found no significant moderation by age, sex, program duration, exercise volume, or intensity.
Key findings
- Resistance exercise reduced fat mass by -2.06 kg and body fat percentage by -2.1%.
- Body weight decreased by -1.3 kg, while lean mass increased by +0.8 kg.
- No significant moderating effects were identified for age, sex, duration, volume, or intensity.
Why it matters
The findings indicate that resistance-based programs may improve several aspects of body composition in young people with overweight or obesity, including lean mass as well as fat-related measures. This broadens the evidence beyond an emphasis on aerobic exercise alone, while the small-to-moderate effects and lack of identified moderators leave uncertainty about which program features are most beneficial.