Outline: The Long-Term Impact of Exercise on Adolescent Growth and Development
Fernando Millan-Domingo1, Adrián De la Rosa González2,3, María Alejandra Camacho-Villa4
1Freshage Research Group, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, CIBERFES, Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario/INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain. fernando.milla-domingo@uv.es.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|April 1, 2026
Summary
Starting physical activity in adolescence offers lifelong health benefits, reducing risks for chronic diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and improving bone, heart, and brain health.
Area of Science:
- Exercise science
- Public health
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Adolescence is a critical period for establishing lifelong health habits.
- Lifestyle choices during adolescence significantly impact long-term health outcomes.
- Physical activity (PA) plays a crucial role in adolescent development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the long-term effects of adolescent physical activity on health.
- To explore the mechanisms through which PA influences health outcomes.
- To identify factors modulating the response to PA and recommend interventions.
Main Methods:
- Review of longitudinal and epidemiological studies.
- Analysis of mechanistic insights into PA's effects.
- Consideration of mediating and moderating variables.
Main Results:
- Regular adolescent PA is linked to reduced adult risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2DM), cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and sarcopenia.
- PA enhances bone development, muscle growth, metabolic regulation, and neuroplasticity, partly via brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
- Genetic, biological sex, maturational, and sociocultural factors influence individual responses to PA.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent physical activity has profound, lasting benefits for musculoskeletal, cardiometabolic, cognitive, and mental health.
- Multilevel public health and school-based strategies are essential for promoting sustained adolescent PA.
- Adolescent PA holds significant preventive and therapeutic potential against noncommunicable diseases globally.
Keywords:
Cardiovascular effectsCognitive functionHealth statusLong-term exercise effectsMetabolic healthPhysical activitySkeletal maturationYouthMore Related Videos
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