Physical Exercise and Executive Function in the Pediatric Overweight and Obesity Population: A Systematic Review...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Overweight/obesity negatively impacts executive function in children and adolescents, affecting learning and daily activities.
• Physical exercise is recognized for its potential to enhance cognitive performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the literature on the effects of physical exercise on executive functions in overweight/obese children and adolescents.
• To compare outcomes between intervention groups and control groups.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCO.
• Inclusion of longitudinal studies with control groups and pre/post-intervention measures of executive function (working memory, inhibition, cognitive flexibility).
• Assessment of bias (Cochrane RoB2) and evidence certainty (GRADE), with meta-analyses using a random effects model.

Main Results:

• This section is to be filled upon completion of the review.

Conclusions:

• Findings may inform educational and health professionals in developing interventions for overweight/obese youth.
• Potential benefits for learning and cognitive abilities in this population are anticipated.