Cited by 142Physical Activity and HealthObesity, Physical Activity, DietCardiovascular and exercise physiology

Effect of aerobic exercise on waist circumference in adults with overweight or obesity: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

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Armstrong, Alex, Jungbluth Rodriguez, Klaus, Sabag, Angelo, Mavros, Yorgi, Parker, Helen M., Keating, Shelley E., Johnson, Nathan A.·2022·Obesity Reviews

Abstract

Summary: Excess visceral adiposity contributes to elevated cardiometabolic risk, and waist circumference is commonly used as a surrogate measure of visceral adipose tissue. Although regular aerobic exercise is known to improve abdominal obesity, its effect on waist circumference is unclear. A systematic review and meta‐analysis was performed to determine (1) the effect of aerobic exercise on waist circumference in adults with overweight or obesity; (2) the association between any change in waist circumference and change in visceral adipose tissue and/or bodyweight with aerobic exercise interventions; and (3) if reductions in waist circumference with exercise are moderated by clinical characteristics or components of aerobic exercise prescription. Twenty‐five randomized controlled trials (1686 participants) were included. Regular aerobic exercise significantly reduced waist circumference by 3.2 cm (95% confidence interval [CI] −3.86, −2.51, p ≤ 0.001) versus control. Change in waist circumference was associated with change in visceral adipose tissue ( β = 4.02; 95% CI 1.37, 6.66, p = 0.004), and vigorous intensity produced superior reduction (−4.2 cm, 95% CI −4.99, −3.42, p < 0.0001) in waist circumference compared with moderate intensity (−2.50 cm, 95% CI −3.22, −1.79, p = 0.058). These findings suggest regular aerobic exercise results in modest reductions in waist circumference and associated visceral adipose tissue and that higher intensity exercise may offer superior benefit to moderate intensity.

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  • Previous meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials have provided evidence that aerobic exercise is an effective intervention for weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity, but their results are mainly based on pairwise comparisons between intervention and control groups.

    “Although previous meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials have provided a wealth of evidence that aerobic exercise is an effective intervention for weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity, the results of these meta-analyses are mainly based on pairwise comparisons between intervention and control groups.8,9,10”

    From Aerobic Exercise and Weight Loss in Adults (2024) · cites this paper as [8]

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  • The greatest number of trials included in earlier reviews were 45 trials for body weight and 25 trials for waist circumference.

    “The greatest number of trials included in the earlier reviews were 45 trials for body weight141 and 25 trials for waist circumference.8”

    From Aerobic Exercise and Weight Loss in Adults (2024) · cites this paper as [8]

    The Results (Included studies; page unavailable) state that this waist-circumference review included 25 RCTs, supporting the number attached to citation 8. The passage does not establish that 25 was the greatest number among earlier reviews. The 45-trial body-weight figure is attached to a different citation and is not assessed here. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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  • According to pairwise meta-analyses, aerobic exercise was associated with reduced waist circumference by 2.12 to 3.20 cm and body weight by 1.60 to 2.00 kg.

    “According to pairwise meta-analyses, aerobic exercise was associated with reduced waist circumference by 2.12 to 3.20 cm8,10 and body weight by 1.60 to 2.00 kg.9,10”

    From Aerobic Exercise and Weight Loss in Adults (2024) · cites this paper as [8]

    The Results (Effect of AEx versus CON on WC; page not provided) report a pooled 3.2 cm reduction in waist circumference, supporting that end of the cited range. The paper analyzes body-weight change as a moderator of waist-circumference change, but the passages do not report a pooled body-weight reduction of 1.60–2.00 kg. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Authors
Armstrong, A., Jungbluth Rodriguez, K., Sabag, A., Mavros, Y., Parker, H. M., Keating, S. E., & Johnson, N. A.
Affiliations
  • The University of Sydney (AU)
  • School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland Australia
  • Western Sydney University (AU)
  • The University of Queensland (AU)
Corresponding author
  • Armstrong, Alex
  • Johnson, Nathan A.
Venue
Obesity Reviews
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2022-04-05
Volume
23
Issue
8
Pages
e13446-e13446
ISSN
  • 1467-7881 (ISSN-L)
  • 1467-789X
OpenAlex
W4225726213
Cited by
142
References
104
Citations by year
2026: 35 · 2025: 36 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 42 · 2022: 6
FWCI
3.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Obesity Reviews (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
Keywords
aerobic exercise, waist circumference, abdominal obesity, visceral adipose tissue, overweight, obesity, exercise intensity, high-intensity exercise, body weight, cardiometabolic risk
MeSH terms
Adult, Humans, Obesity, Weight Loss, Exercise, Body Mass Index, Overweight, Waist Circumference, Obesity, Abdominal

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