Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026

A Chronic High-Intensity Interval Training and Diet-Induced Obesity Model to Maximize Exercise Effort and Induce Physiologic Changes in Rats
Published on: April 28, 2023
Acute exercise increases circulating inflammatory markers in overweight and obese compared with lean subjects
Tore Christiansen1, Jens M Bruun, Søren K Paulsen
1Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology (MEA), Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Overweight and obese individuals show a heightened inflammatory response to acute exercise compared to lean individuals, with higher increases in circulating inflammatory markers like IL-6. This suggests body weight influences exercise-induced inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Immunology
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Obesity is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation.
- The impact of acute exercise on inflammatory markers in different body weight groups is not fully understood.
- Skeletal muscle (SM) and adipose tissue (AT) play roles in regulating inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the levels of circulating inflammatory markers in lean versus overweight/obese individuals after acute exercise.
- To investigate differences in inflammatory marker gene expression in SM and AT between these groups post-exercise.
Main Methods:
- Fifteen lean and 16 overweight/obese individuals completed 120 minutes of cycling exercise.
- Blood samples were analyzed for inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-8, IL-15) using ELISA.
- SM and AT biopsies were collected to assess mRNA expression of inflammatory markers via Real-time RT-PCR.
Main Results:
- Circulating IL-6, TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-15 increased post-exercise in all participants.
- Overweight/obese individuals exhibited a significantly greater increase in circulating IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α compared to lean individuals.
- Acute exercise increased IL-6 mRNA in SM and IL-6/adiponectin mRNA in AT, with no significant body weight effect.
Conclusions:
- The systemic inflammatory response to acute exercise differs between lean and overweight/obese individuals.
- Overweight and obese individuals experience a more pronounced increase in circulating inflammatory markers following exercise.
- Body fat percentage is positively correlated with the exercise-induced increase in IL-6.
More Related Videos
07:52Assessment of Murine Exercise Endurance Without the Use of a Shock Grid: An Alternative to Forced Exercise
Published on: August 14, 2014
07:26Conducting Maximal and Submaximal Endurance Exercise Testing to Measure Physiological and Biological Responses to Acute Exercise in Humans
Published on: October 17, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Exercise 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...
Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be met...
Obesity
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Metabolism and Excretion