title: Effects of Exercise on Carotid Arterial Wall Thickness in Obese Pediatric Populations: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
abstract: In pediatric populations, the use of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) as a marker of cardiovascular risk has increased. However, previous studies examining the effects of exercise training on arterial structure and function in obese children and adolescents have shown inconsistent findings. The primary aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to expand on the current body of literature by providing a quantitative estimate of the change in carotid IMT following exercise training as well as to provide an exploratory analysis of potential moderators associated with the variation in response to an exercise training intervention in overweight and obese youth.
  
  
  
  A computerized search was made using three databases. The analysis was restricted to studies that examined the effect of exercise interventions on carotid IMT in pediatric obesity (6-18-year-olds). Hedges' g and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.
  
  
  
  Six randomized controlled trials (303 youths) were included. Exercise was associated with a small-to-moderate but significant reduction in carotid IMT (g = -0.306; 95% CI -0.540 to -0.072; p = 0.011). Likewise, exercise program duration per week significantly influenced the effect of exercise on carotid IMT (β = -0.060; p = 0.015).
  
  
  
  Exercise seems to reduce carotid IMT in childhood obesity. Therefore, encouraging obese pediatric individuals to become physically active can lead to favorable changes in the arterial wall.
authors.affiliation: 1 Laboratorio de Ciencias de la Actividad Física, el Deporte y la Salud, Universidad de Santiago de Chile , USACH, Santiago, Chile .
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Hermoso
authors.affiliation: 2 Centro de Estudios para la Medición de la Actividad Física «CEMA», Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Rosario , Bogotá, Colombia .
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: González-Ruiz
authors.affiliation: 3 Grupo GICAEDS, Facultad de Cultura Física, Deporte y Recreación, Universidad Santo Tomás , Bogotá, Colombia .
authors.forename: Hector Reynaldo
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Triana-Reina
authors.affiliation: 4 Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile , Talca, Chile .
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olloquequi
authors.affiliation: 2 Centro de Estudios para la Medición de la Actividad Física «CEMA», Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Rosario , Bogotá, Colombia .
authors.forename: Robinson
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Vélez
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs
keywords: adolescent; children; intima-media thickness; physical training; vascular function