title: Impact of physical exercise/activity on vascular structure and inflammation in pediatric populations: A literature review.
abstract: To describe the effects of physical exercise/activity on the vascular architecture of children and adolescents, as well as to identify the effects of inflammation and sedentary behaviors on this relationship.
  
  
  
  Potentially relevant articles were identified in the databases MEDLINE and PubMed covering the period from 2000 to 2015. No language restrictions were applied.
  
  
  
  Thirteen articles were found that included obese boys and girls in their samples (aged 9-19). Six interventional studies assessed inflammation and in five of these, physical exercise decreased inflammation. In 10 studies, vascular architecture was affected by physical exercise/activity.
  
  
  
  The impact of physical exercise on vascular architecture and inflammation seems relevant, but has been mainly investigated in obese groups.
  
  
  
  Health professionals should act together in organized interventions in schools, targeting the promotion of higher physical activity levels in children and adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Suziane Ungari Cayres, MSc, is PhD Student in Post-Graduate Program in Movement Sciences, São Paulo State University, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Suziane Ungari
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Cayres
authors.affiliation: Ricardo Ribeiro Agostinete is Master's Degree Student in the Post-Graduate Program in Physiotherapy, São Paulo State University, Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Ribeiro
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Agostinete
authors.affiliation: Barbara de Moura Mello Antunes, MSc, is PhD Student in the Post-Graduate Program in Movement Sciences, São Paulo State University, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Moura Mello Antunes
authors.affiliation: Fabio Santos de Lira, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Exercise and Immunometabolism Research Group, Department of Physical Education, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabio Santos
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Lira
authors.affiliation: Romulo Araújo Fernandes, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Laboratory of Investigation in Exercise, Department of Physical Education, Sao Paulo State University, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rômulo Araújo
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Fernandes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D057185:Sedentary Behavior
keywords: Adolescent; arterial pressure; carotid intima-media thickness; inflammation; motor activity