Use of Physical Activity and Exercise to Reduce Inflammation in Children and Adolescents with Obesity

Valeria Calcaterra, Matteo Vandoni, Virginia Rossi, Clarissa Berardo, Roberta Grazi, Erika Cordaro, Valeria Tranfaglia, Vittoria Carnevale Pellino, Cristina Cereda and Gianvincenzo Zuccotti
Additional contact information
Valeria Calcaterra: Pediatric and Adolescent Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Matteo Vandoni: Laboratory of Adapted Motor Activity (LAMA), Department of Public health, Experimental Medicine and Forensic Science, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Virginia Rossi: Pediatric Department, “Vittore Buzzi” Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy
Clarissa Berardo: Department of Biomedical and Clinical Science, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
Roberta Grazi: Pediatric Department, “Vittore Buzzi” Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy
Erika Cordaro: Pediatric and Adolescent Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Valeria Tranfaglia: Pediatric Department, “Vittore Buzzi” Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy
Vittoria Carnevale Pellino: Department of Biomedical and Clinical Science, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
Cristina Cereda: Neonatal Screening and Metabolic Disorders Unit, V. Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy
Gianvincenzo Zuccotti: Pediatric Department, “Vittore Buzzi” Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 11, 1-20

Abstract: Childhood obesity is a leading public health problem worldwide, as it is increasingly prevalent and therefore responsible for serious obesity-related comorbidities, not only in childhood but also in adulthood. In addition to cardio-metabolic obesity-related disorders, recent evidence suggests that excess adipose tissue in turn is associated with immune cell infiltration, increased adipokine release, and the development of low-grade systemic inflammation obesity. Exercise is considered a non-pharmacological intervention that can delay obesity-related comorbidities, improving cardiovascular fitness and modulating the inflammatory processes. It has been reported that the anti-inflammatory effect of regular exercise may be mediated by a reduction in visceral fat mass, with a subsequent decrease in the release of adipokines from adipose tissue (AT) and/or by the induction of an anti-inflammatory environment. In this narrative review, we discuss the role of AT as an endocrine organ associated with chronic inflammation and its role in obesity-related complications, focusing on the effect of exercise in reducing inflammation in children and adolescents with obesity. Regular physical exercise must be considered as a natural part of a healthy lifestyle, and promoting physical activity starting from childhood is useful to limit the negative effects of obesity on health. The crucial role of the immune system in the development of obesity-induced inflammatory processes and the efficacy of exercise as an anti-inflammatory, non-pharmacological intervention may provide possible targets for the development of new treatments and early preventive strategies.

Keywords: inflammation; obesity; exercise; physical activity; children; adolescents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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