Evidence mapPaperPMID 39789470Full record

SynthesisBMC pediatrics2025

The effect of exercise intervention on inhibitory function in obese and overweight children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aona Chen, Chenggen Guo, Shuhua Qu

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC pediatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Aona ChenSchool of Physical Education, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China.
Chenggen GuoSchool of Sports Training, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, China. guochenggen@whsu.edu.cn.
Shuhua QuChina Athletics College, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesObese and overweight children and adolescents exhibit significant deficits in inhibitory function compared to their typical-weight peers. There is a high variability in the effectiveness of exercise interventions on inhibitory function in obese and overweight children and adolescents, and clinical protocols lack consistency. This study aims to systematically review the effects of exercise interventions on inhibitory function in obese and overweight children and adolescents.

methodsA systematic search was conducted on Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, EBSCO, WanFang Database, and China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database (CNKI) to gather randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the impact of exercise interventions on inhibitory function in obese and overweight children and adolescents. The search covered publications from January 2000 to January 8, 2024. Two researchers independently conducted a meta-analysis, screening the literature, extracting information, and assessing the methodological quality of the included studies.

resultsThe analysis included 24 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a total of 1,247 participants. The meta-analysis showed that post-intervention improvements in inhibitory function were significantly greater in the experimental group compared to the control group (SMD = -0.65, 95% CI = -1.01 to -0.29, p < 0.01), indicating a medium effect size. Subgroup analyses indicated that open motor skills (SMD = -0.73, 95% CI = -1.20 to -0.27, p < 0.01), moderate intensity (SMD = -0.80, 95% CI = -1.37 to -0.23, p < 0.01), and long-term regular exercise (SMD = -1.04, 95% CI = -1.47 to -0.62, p < 0.01) were significantly more effective than controls in improving inhibitory function. Both small exercise (SMD = -1.60, 95% CI = -2.25 to -0.94, p < 0.01) and large exercise volume (SMD = -0.85, 95% CI = -1.33 to -0.37, p < 0.01) outperformed the control group. Additionally, Stroop, Flanker, and Go/No-go tasks (SMD = -0.88, -0.62, 0.73, 95% CI = -1.43 to -0.32, -1.09 to -0.15, 0.20 to 1.25, p < 0.01) effectively assessed inhibitory function in obese and overweight children and adolescents.

conclusionExercise can improve the inhibitory function of obese and overweight children and adolescents. The effectiveness of this intervention is influenced by exercise type, intensity, and duration. Long-term regular exercise involving open motor skills and moderate intensity yields better results in enhancing the inhibitory function of obese and overweight children and adolescents. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: The protocol of this systematic review was registered with INPLASY. The protocol ID was INPLASY202450061.

Indexed as

Exercise TherapyInhibition, PsychologicalOverweightPediatric ObesityAdolescentChildHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicChildren and adolescentsExecutive functionExercise interventionInhibitory functionObesity

Identifiers

PMID39789470
PMCPMC11715291

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.