Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39917742›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in nutrition2025

Effect of long-term exercise on circulating ghrelin in overweight and obese individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Xianyang Xin, Hai Wang, Yongqing Guo, Jun Xie

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in nutrition, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–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

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. The Positive Effects of Exercise on Adolescent Growth and Development.Advances in experimental medicine and biology · 2026
    Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
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

4 authors.

Xianyang XinCapital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing, China.
Hai WangCapital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing, China.
Yongqing GuoCapital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing, China.
Jun XieCapital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: Ghrelin, also known as the "hunger hormone," is a pivotal hormone in controlling appetite, and it is the only known gastrointestinal hormone that promotes food intake, contributing to the regulation of energy balance and body weight. However, studies on the long-term effects of exercise on ghrelin levels in obese populations have shown conflicting results. This study aims to summarize RCT experiments exploring changes in ghrelin levels following long-term exercise in obese or overweight individuals through meta-analysis. Methods: This study employed meta-analytical techniques, searching databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE, to gather research on exercise and ghrelin. The quality of the studies was assessed according to the Cochrane Handbook standards, and data analysis for ghrelin, BMI, and weight was performed using RevMan 5.4 and Stata 16.0 software. A total of 13 interventions involving 944 participants were included to systematically investigate the regulatory effects of exercise on ghrelin levels in obese and overweight individuals. Meta-analytical results were calculated using standardized mean differences (SMDs). Results: Exercise interventions significantly increased ghrelin levels (SMD =1.16, 95% CI = 0.52 to 1.80, Conclusion: Prolonged exercise interventions demonstrated a statistically significant effect on ghrelin levels. This indicates that exercise interventions can elevate ghrelin levels, which may be associated with reductions in BMI and weight. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, CRD42024588259.

Indexed as

appetiteexerciseghrelinlong-term exercisemeta-analysisoverweight and obese

Identifiers

PMID39917742
PMCPMC11798780

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.