Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 20, 2026
Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
Published on: August 22, 2012
Low-grade systemic inflammation in overweight children: impact of physical fitness
Martin Halle1, Ulrike Korsten-Reck, Bernd Wolfarth
1Technical University, Munich, Germany. halle@sport.med.tum.de
Insights
Childhood obesity is linked to higher inflammation and cardiovascular risks. Physical fitness can counteract these obesity-related inflammatory effects, even in obese children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Inflammation Research
Background:
- Obesity, low physical fitness, and inactivity are linked to increased cardiovascular disease (CAD) risk factors.
- Inflammation, driven by pro-inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) from adipose tissue, plays a role in the obesity-CAD relationship.
- The specific impact of obesity and fitness on inflammation and cardiovascular risk in children requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between obesity, physical fitness, and metabolic cardiovascular risk profile, including inflammation markers, in children aged 10-15 years.
- To determine if physical fitness can mitigate the inflammatory effects of obesity in childhood.
Main Methods:
- Study included 197 children aged 10-15 years.
- Assessed obesity (BMI), physical fitness (METs), and a metabolic cardiovascular risk profile.
- Measured inflammatory parameters including fibrinogen, ferritin, IL-6, and TNF-alpha.
Main Results:
- Obese children exhibited significantly higher concentrations of inflammatory markers (fibrinogen, ferritin, IL-6, TNF-alpha) compared to non-obese children (P<0.01).
- Obese and unfit children displayed the highest levels of systemic inflammation.
- Obese children with high physical fitness showed inflammatory levels comparable to lean and fit children.
Conclusions:
- Elevated inflammatory parameters are present in obese children, indicating an increased cardiovascular risk.
- Physical fitness acts as a significant mitigating factor, counteracting the association between obesity and inflammation in children.
- Promoting physical fitness may be a key strategy to reduce cardiovascular risk in obese children.
Abstract:
Obesity as well as low physical fitness and inactivity are associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular risk factors and coronary artery disease (CAD). Increased inflammation has recently been addressed to play an important role for the relationship between obesity and CAD, as adipose tissue expresses and releases pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). As this relationship is less clear in childhood, we investigated 197 children aged 10-15 years assessing obesity, physical fitness, and a metabolic cardiovascular risk profile including markers of inflammation. Obese children had significantly higher concentrations of inflammatory parameters such as fibrinogen, ferritin, IL-6, and TNF-alpha than non-obese subjects (P<0.01). When dividing the children into groups regarding obesity (BMI < 22.5 kg/mz, BMI > or = 22.5 kglm2) and fitness (< 5 MET, > or = 5 MET), we found that obese, unfit children showed the highest systemic inflammation, whereas fit but obese individuals had as low levels as lean and fit children. These data reveal that even in childhood inflammatory parameters are elevated in obesity and that physical fitness counteracts this association.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Obesity
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:02Hypodermis