Optimizing Exercise Strategies for Insulin Resistance in Children and Adolescents With Overweight or Obesity: A Network Meta‐Analysis
Authors' conclusion
Different modalities offer complementary benefits. AE serves as a foundational intervention, while HIIT and COM act as intensification strategies. RT provides crucial support within combined programs. Future research should define optimal exercise intensity and duration to maximize benefits.
Study context
- Population
- Children and adolescents with overweight/obesity; RCTs published through August 2025
- Participants
- 3,286 children63 RCTs
- Comparison
- Aerobic exercise (AE) vs resistance training (RT) vs high-intensity interval training (HIIT) vs COM on insulin resistance markers
- Outcome
- Insulin resistance markers: FBG, fasting insulin (FINS), HOMA-IR
Methodological detailsrandom-effects models, SUCRA ranking, PRISMA guidelines
- Random-effects models
- SUCRA ranking
- PRISMA guidelines
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Insulin resistance markers
SMD (CI)
HIITFINS; HIIT most effective
−0.80(−1.22 to −0.37)
HIITHOMA-IR; HIIT most effective
−1.21(−1.76 to −0.65)
COMFBG; COM best lowered FBG
−0.41(−0.66 to −0.15)
Further pooled results
- Minor small-study effects for fasting insulin (FINS) and HOMA-IR; publication bias for FBG minimal
Original publication
Optimizing Exercise Strategies for Insulin Resistance in Children and Adolescents With Overweight or Obesity: A Network Meta‐Analysis. Pediatr Obes. Published 26 March 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →