An Overview of the Effects of Exercise on Viral Infection in Obesity: Recent Advances and Potential Mechanisms

The intersection of the global obesity epidemic with viral infection pandemics poses a significant public health problem. Obesity increases virus severity by inducing dyslipidemia-characterized by defective low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles-and establishes a condition of chronic, low-grade inflammation that undermines both innate and adaptive immunity. Moreover, cholesterol-enriched lipid rafts (LRs) in the plasma membrane, which are crucial for viral entry and replication, provide a molecular connection between dysregulated lipid metabolism and viral life cycles. Although exercise is acknowledged for its benefits to metabolic and immunological health, a thorough synthesis of its precise function in influencing the relationship between obesity and viral infection is lacking. This review examines the impact of exercise on lipid metabolism and adipose tissue function, as well as its subsequent effect on antiviral immunity. We discuss how exercise training may mitigate obesity-induced dyslipidemia, promote the health of white adipose tissue, reduce inflammation, and enhance both humoral and cellular immune responses. We also compile research about the direct impacts of exercise on different viral illnesses. In summary, obesity intensifies viral infections via dyslipidemia and compromised immunity. This study has identified a significant gap by demonstrating that regular exercise is a crucial non-pharmacological strategy for mitigating these hazards. We have outlined the comprehensive mechanism by which exercise enhances lipid metabolism and adipose tissue function, consequently strengthening antiviral immunity and disrupting the cycle of obesity-related susceptibility to severe viral diseases. Consequently, physical exercise should be regarded as a fundamental preventive measure.