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. 2023 Oct 23;15(20):4489. doi: 10.3390/nu15204489

Table 1.

Experimental characteristics of the included studies (n = 31) involving overweight (OW) individuals and individuals with obesity (OB) and type II diabetes (T2DM).

Studies Participant Characteristics PPE Protocols Test Meals Outcome Variables Major Findings
Authors (Year) N (Sex) Age (Year) BMI (kg/m2) Disease Status (Fasting Glucose) Exercise Mode and Intensity Exercise Duration Exercise Timing Post-Meal Caloric Intake (Kcal) % Energy from CHO
Bellini et al. [47] 8 63 32 T2DM (HbA1c: 7.0%)

  • AE: Walking at 100 steps/min

  • RE: A circuits of 5 exercises w/medicine ball and elastic band

  • AE: 30 min

  • RE: 15 min

 ~30 min 310/meal 66 3 h mean glucose concentration 3 h mean glucose ↓ in AE or RE than CON
Carrillo-Arango et al. [56] 33 (24 M/9 F) 33 29 OW/OB (FG: 85 mg/dL) 8 30 s all-out cycling at 90–95% HRmax with 1 min rest period between bouts 12 min ~90 min 300/meal 100 3 h glucose AUC 3 h glucose AUC ↔ between PPE and CON
Colberg et al. [26] 12 (6 M/6 F) 61 35 T2DM (HbA1c: 7.0%) Walking at 40% HHR 20 min 15–20 min 400–450/meal Mixed 4 h glucose AUC 4 h glucose AUC ↔ between PPE and CON
Derave et al. [57] 7 (7 M) 45 34 OB (FG: 90 mg/dL) Cycling at 60% VO2max 45 min ~60 min 516/meal 82 3 h glucose iAUC 3 h glucose iAUC ↔ between PPE and CON
DiPietro et al. [58] 10 69 30 OB (FG: 105–125 mg/dL) Walking at 3 METs for 15 min after each meal 45 min ~30 min 32/kg/day 53 3 h mean glucose concentration; 24 h glucose AUC 3 h mean glucose ↓ in PPE than CON; 24 h glucose AUC ↓ in PPE than CON
Erickson et al. [37] 10 (2 M/8 F) 57 34 T2DM (HbA1c: 6.3%) 5 10 min cycling at 60% VO2max with 3 min rest between bouts 50 min <30 min 600–1000/meal 65 2 h glucose AUC; 24 h mean glucose concentration 2 h glucose AUC ↓ in PPE than CON; 24 h mean glucose ↔ between PPE and CON
Gillen et al. [29] 7 62 31 T2DM (HbA1c: 6.9%) 10 1 min cycling at 85% HRmax with 1 min rest between bouts 10 min ~90 min 1704/day 52 2 h mean glucose concentration; 24 h mean glucose concentration 2 h mean glucose ↓ in PPE than CON; 24 h mean glucose ↔ between PPE and CON
Haxhi et al. [48] 9 (9 M) 58 30 T2DM (HbA1c: 7.0%) Walking at 50% of HRR 40 min ~40 min 673/meal 55–60 3 h glucose iAUC; 24 h mean glucose concentration 3 h iAUC ↔ between PPE and CON; 24 h mean glucose ↔ between PPE and CON
Heden et al. [28] 13 (5 M/8 F) 49 37 T2DM (HbA1c: 7.2%) 3 sets of 10 reps in each of 8 exercises at 10 RM with ~2 min rest between sets 47 min ~45 min 832/meal 50 4 h glucose iAUC 4 h glucose iAUC ↓ in PPE than CON
Honda et al. [30] 16 (13 M/3 F) 65 24 T2DM (HbA1c: 6.9%) Stair climbing at ~80% HRmax for 3 min after breakfast and lunch 3 min 60–120 min 460/meal 49 3 h glucose AUC 3 h glucose AUC ↓ in PPE than CON
Honda et al. [31] 7 (7 M) 70 24 T2DM (HbA1c: 7%) Stair climbing at ~80% HRmax for 3 min after breakfast and lunch 3 min 60–120 min 522/meal 66 24 h mean glucose concentration 24 h mean glucose ↓ in PPE than CON
Kong et al. [59] 15 (15 M) 21 34 OW (NA) 4 30 s all-out cycling against 5–7.5% of BM with 4 min recovery between bouts 14 min ~90 min NA 55 2.5 h glucose AUC 2.5 h glucose AUC ↓ in PPE than CON
Larsen et al. [49] 8 (8 M) 56 29 T2DM (HbA1c: 6.0%) 4 7 min cycling (3 min at 57% and 4 min at 98% VO2max with 6 min rest between bouts 46 min <45 min 648/meal 59 4 h glucose iAUC 4 h glucose iAUC ↓ in PPE than CON
Larsen et al. [50] 9 (9 M) 60 29 T2DM (HbA1c: 7.1%) Cycling at 50% VO2max 45 min ~45 min 596/meal 56 4 h glucose iAUC 4 h glucose iAUC ↓ in PPE than CON
Li et al. [38] 29 (22 M/7 F) 51 25 T2DM (HbA1c: 7.3%) Walking at 40% HRR 20 min <30 min 1754/day 55 2 h glucose AUC; 12 h mean glucose concentration 2 h glucose AUC ↓ in PPE than CON; 12 h mean glucose ↔ between PPE and CON
Little et al. [60] 10 (2 M/8 F) 41 36 OW/OB (FG: 5.6 mM)

  • HIIE: 10 1 min cycling at 90% HRmax with 1 min rest between bouts

  • CMIE: Cycling at 65% HRmax

  • HIIE: 10 min

  • CMIE: 30 min

 ~120 min 595/meal 70 2 h glucose iAUC; 24 h mean glucose concentration 2 h glucose iAUC ↓ in HIIE or CMIE than CON; 24 h mean glucose ↔ across HIIE, CMIE, and CON
Manders et al. [51] 9 (9 M) 57 29 T2DM (HbA1c: 7.3%)

  • LI: Cycling at 35% Wmax

  • HI: Cycling at 70% Wmax

  • LI: 60 min

  • HI: 30 min

 <60 min 2503/day 58 4 h mean glucose; 24 h mean glucose concentration 4 h mean glucose ↔ across LI, HI, and CON; 24 h mean glucose ↓ in LI than CON
Manders et al. [32] 15 (7 M/8 F) 60 30 T2DM (HbA1c: 7.0%)

  • HIIE: 5 min walking at 25% HRR, 5 sets of 3 min walking at 70% HRR with 3 min recovery at 30% HRR between sets, and 5 min cooldown at 25% HRR

  • CMIE: 5 min walking at 25% HRR, 30 min at 50% HRR, and 5 min cooldown at 25% HRR

  • HIIE: 40 min

  • CMIE: 40 min

 60 min 200/meal 61 50 min mean glucose concentration 50 min mean glucose ↓ in HIIE or CMIE than CON
Metcalfe et al. [52] 11 (11 M) 52 30 T2DM (HbA1c: 7.0%)

  • ASIE: 10 min unloaded cycling interspersed with 2 20 s all-out cycling against 5% BM;

  • HIIE: 10 1 min cycling at 90%HRmax with 1 min recovery;

  • CMIE: Cycling at 50% Wmax for 30 min

  • ASIE: 10 min

  • HIIE: 25 min

  • CMIE: 30 min

 ~30 min 2441/day 51 3 h mean glucose concentration; 24 h mean glucose concentration 3 h glucose AUC ↔ across ASIE, HIIE, CMIE, and CON; 24 h mean glucose ↓ in ASIE than CON
Moreira et al. [33] 9 (9 M) 47 29 T2DM (HbA1c: >7%)

  • RE-LI: 3 sets of 30 reps in each of 6 exercises at 23% 1 RM with 2 min rest between sets

  • RE-MI: 3 sets of 16 reps in each of 6 exercises at 43% 1RM with 2 min rest between sets

  • RE-LI: 25 min

  • RE-HI: 25 min

 ~120 min 285/meal 63 145 min glucose AUC 145 min glucose iAUC ↓ in RE-LI or RE-MI than CON
Nygaard et al. [61] 12 (8 M/4 F) 65 25 HG (HbA1c: 6.1%) Walking at 8% and speed corresponding to RPE of 12 60 min ~30 min 2117/day 44 1 h glucose AUC; 22 h mean glucose concentration 1 h glucose AUC ↓ in PPE than CON; 22 h mean glucose ↔ between PPE and CON
Parker et al. [62] 27 (10 M/17 F) 30 30 OW/OB (FG: 4.5–5.0 mM)

  • HIIE: 5 min cycling at 50% Wmax, 8 1 min cycling at 100% Wmax with 1 min recovery at 50 W between bouts, and 3 min cooldown at 50% Wmax

  • CMIE: Cycling at 50% Wmax

  • HIIE: 24 min

  • CMIE: 38 min

 ≥60 min 500/meal 55 2 h glucose AUC; 24 h mean glucose concentration 2 h AUC ↓ in HIIE or CMIE than CON; 22 h mean glucose ↓ in HIIE or CMIE than CON
Rasmussen et al. [53] 12 (8 M/4 F) 56 29 T2DM (HbA1c: 8%) Cycling at 40% VO2max 30 min 30 min 436/meal 48 4 h glucose AUC 4 h glucose AUC ↔ between PPE and CON
Sargeant et al. [63] 23 (13 M/10 F) 67 30 HG (HbA1c: 5.9%)

  • HIIE: 3 min walking at 3.5 mph, 10 1 min brisk and inclined walking at 90% VO2max with 1 min recovery at 3.5 mph between bouts, 2 min cooldown at 3.5 mph

  • CMIE: Brisk and inclined walking at 65% VO2max

  • HIIE: 25 min

  • CMIE: 35 min

 ~90 min 622–668/meal 62 6 h glucose AUC 6 h glucose iAUC ↔ across PPE-HIIE, CMIE and CON in WE and SA subgroups
Shambrook et al. [64] 10 (8 M/2 F) 50 29 OW (FG: 4.8 mM)

  • Ex-30 × 1: Walking at 55–70% HHR for 30 min after breakfast

  • Ex-10 × 3: Walking at 55–70% HHR for 10 min after each meal

  • Ex-30 × 1: 30 min

  • Ex-10 × 3: 30 min

 30 min NA 55 2 h glucose AUC; 24 h glucose AUC 2 h and 24 h glucose AUC ↔ between Ex-30 × 1, Ex-10 × 3, and CON
Terada et al. [54] 10 (8 M/2 F) 60 31 T2DM (HbA1c: 7.1%)

  • HIIE: 15 1 min inclined walking at 100% VO2max with 3 min recovery at 40% VO2max between bouts

  • CMIE: Inclined walking at 55% VO2max

  • HIIE: 60 min

  • CMIE: 60 min

 ≥60 min 600/meal 50 2 h glucose iAUC; 24 h mean glucose concentration 2 h iAUC ↔ between HIIE or CMIE and CON; 24 h mean glucose ↔ between HIIE or CMIE and CON
Van Dijk et al. [34] 60 (60 M) 60 30 T2DM (HbA1c: 7.3%) Cycling at 35–50% Wmax 45–60 min 90–150 min 2390/day 56 24 h mean glucose concentration 24 h mean glucose ↓ in PPE than CON
Van Dijk et al. [35] 45 (45 M) 61 30 IGT and T2DM (HbA1c: 6.1–7.6%)

  • AE: Cycling at 50% Wmax;

  • RE: Warm-up set at 20% BM, 3 sets of 10 reps at 40% BM in each of 2 upper-body exercises and 5 sets of 10 reps at 70% 1 RM in each of 2 lower-body exercises

  • AE: 45 min

  • RE: 45 min

 ~150 min 2486/day 57 6 h mean glucose; 24 h mean glucose concentration 6 h mean glucose ↓ in AE or RE than CON in all subgroups; 24 h mean glucose ↓ in AE or RE than CON in IGT, OGLM, and INS subgroups
van Dijk et al. [36] 30 (30 M) 60 30 T2DM (HbA1c: 7.0–7.4%)

  • Ex-Daily: Cycling at 50% Wmax for 30 min every 24 h over a 48 h period

  • Ex-Nondaily: Cycling at 50% Wmax for 60 min over a 48 h period

  • Ex-Daily: 30 min/24 h

  • Ex-Nondaily: 60 min/48 h

 ~90 min 2462/day 55 48 h mean glucose concentration 48 h mean glucose ↓ in Ex-Daily or Ex-Nondaily than CON
van Dijk et al. [55] 20 (20 M) 64 30 T2DM (HbA1c: 6.9%)

  • Ex-45 × 1: Cycling at 6 METs for 45 min after breakfast

  • Ex-15 × 3: Cycling at 3 METs 15 min after each meal

  • Ex-45 × 1: 45 min

  • Ex-15 × 3: 45 min

 ~45 min 2342/day 50 24 h mean glucose concentration 24 h mean glucose ↓ in Ex-45 × 1 than CON, but ↔ between Ex-15 × 3 and CON
Zhang et al. [39] 20 (20 M) 23 27 (OB by WHO Guidelines) OW/OB (HbA1c: 5.3%)

  • Ex-20 min post: Walking at 50% VO2max ~20 min post-meal

  • Ex-40 min post: Walking at 50% VO2max ~40 min post-meal

  • Ex-20 min post: 30 min

  • Ex-20 min post: 30 min

 ~20 min and ~40 min 1970–1980/day 49.7–51.2 4 h glucose iAUC; 24 h mean glucose concentration 4 h iAUC ↓ in Ex-20 min post or Ex-40 min post than CON; 24 h mean glucose ↔ between Ex-20 min post or Ex-40 min post and CON

Note: Thirty-one studies were selected for the meta-analysis. Values for age, BMI, and fasting glucose are the group means extracted from the studies. PPE: Postprandial exercise; CON: Time-matched control condition; ASIE: All-out sprint interval exercise; HIIE: High-intensity interval exercise; CMIT: Continuous moderate-intensity exercise; AE: Aerobic exercise; RE: Resistance exercise; MET: Metabolic equivalent; HHR: Heart rate reserve; W: Power in watts; BM: Body mass; LI: Lower intensity; MI: Moderate intensity; HI: High intensity; AUC: Area under the curve; iAUC: Incremental AUC; WE: White Europeans; SA: South Asians; IGT: Impaired glucose tolerance; OGLM: Oral glucose-lowering medication; INS: Insulin treatment; ↓: Significantly different, p < 0.05; ↔: not significantly different, p ≥ 0.05.