. 2020 Sep 8;22(2):e13137. doi: 10.1111/obr.13137

TABLE 2.

Summary of studies included in network meta‐analysis indicating the exercise intervention used and the outcome measures reported for comparison within the analysis

Study	Country	Duration (weeks)	Sample N/F/M	Mean age (SD)	Exercise category	Summary description of exercise intervention Frequency, intensity, time and type (F.I.T.T.)	Outcome measures reported
Alizadeh et al. ³⁸	Iran	12	15/15/0 15/15/0 15/15/0	34.5 (6.2) 33.1 (7.7) 32.4 (9.5)	CON AE‐M AE‐M	No exercise Continuous walking; 40 min; 65–75% HR_max; 5 days week⁻¹ Intermittent walking; 3 bouts summing up to 40 min; 65–75% HR_max; 5 days week⁻¹	Weight, BMI
Alves et al. ³⁹	Brazil	26	78/78/0 78/78/0	37 (10.6) 39.4 (11.1)	CON AE‐M	No exercise Continuous walking; 40 min; 40–60% HRR; 3 days week⁻¹	Weight, BMI
Arad et al. ⁴⁰	USA	12	14/14/0 14/14/0	30.2 (7) 29.1 (4)	CON AE‐V	No exercise HITT: 6 min; 50% HRR, 4 intervals (60 s at 80–90% HRR) and 4 recovery minutes (210 s 50% HRR); 24 min; 3 days week⁻¹	Weight, BMI, %fat, fitness
Arslan ⁴¹	Turkey	8	20/20/0 29/29/0	37 (9.1) 41.6 (6.7)	CON AE‐V	No exercise Weeks 1–4: 60–70% HR_max; 40 min; 3 days week⁻¹ and then Weeks 5–8: 80% HR_max; 50 min; 3 days week⁻¹ (step‐aerobics)	Weight, BMI, %fat
Bonfante et al. ⁴²	Brazil	26	10/0/10 12/0/12	49.1 (6.2) 49.1 (5.5)	CON COM‐LM	No exercise 60‐min session; resistance (3 sets of 8–10 max reps) and endurance (walking/running) 60–65% VO₂ peak; 3 days week⁻¹	Weight, BMI, WC, %fat, fitness, HDL, TG, FBG
Borg et al. ⁴³	Finland	26	27/0/27 28/0/28 29/0/29	35–50 ^d	CON AE‐M R‐LM	No exercise 60–70% VO_2max, 45 min; 3 days week⁻¹ 60–75% 1RM, 8 reps/3 sets/6 exercises, 45 min; 3 days week⁻¹	Weight, WC
Chih‐Hui et al. ⁴⁴	Taiwan	12	12/3/9 12/4/8 12/3/9 12/4/8	20.8 (0.7) 21.8 (0.7) 20.9 (0.4) 20.7 (0.6)	CON AE‐M AE‐M AE‐V	No exercise 40–50% HRR; 60 min; 3 days week⁻¹ 60–70% HHR; 60 min; 3 days week⁻¹ 70–80% HHR; 60 min; 3 days week⁻¹	Weight, BMI, WC
Church et al. ⁴⁵	USA	26	96/96/0 145/145/0 90/90/0 96/96/0	57.2 (5.9) 57.9 (6.5) 56.7 (6.4) 56.4 (6.3)	CON AE‐M AE‐M AE‐M	No exercise 73 min week⁻¹; 50% VO₂ peak treadmill/cycle ergometer 139 min week⁻¹; 50% VO₂ peak treadmill/cycle ergometer 192 min week⁻¹; 50% VO₂ peak treadmill/cycle ergometer	Weight, WC, %fat, fitness, HDL, TG, FBG
Croymans et al. ⁴⁶	USA	12	8/8/0 28/28/0	22.0 (1.5) 21.5 (2.1)	CON R‐HI	No exercise 3 days week⁻¹; 60 min; 8 global exercises; 2 sets (15 reps); progressing from 100% 15 rep max to 100% 6 rep max	Weight, BMI, WC, %fat, BP
Dengel et al. ⁴⁷	USA	52	9/0/9 10/0/10	62.8 (2.5) 60.3 (2.4)	CON AE‐V	No exercise 60% HRR; 30 min; 3 days week⁻¹ progress to 85% HRR; 40 min	Weight, %fat, fitness, FBG
Donges et al. ⁴⁸	Australia	12	11/0/11 12/0/12 12/0/12 12/0/12	49.5 (2.6) 45.4 (1.7) 51.7 (2.1) 46.2 (1.4)	CON AE‐V R‐HI COM‐HI	No exercise 75–80% HR_max; 40–60 min; 3 days week⁻¹; cycle ergometer 75–80% 1RM; 10 exercises; 3–4 sets; 10 reps; 3 days week⁻¹ 50% aerobic as above and 50% resistance as above; 3 days week⁻¹	Weight, %fat, fitness
Donnelly et al. ⁴⁹ ^, ^a	USA	42	15/15/0 31/31/0 32/32/0	21.8 (2.6) 22.6 (2.9) 22.6 (3.2)	CON AE‐V AE‐V	No exercise 70–80% HR_max; 48 min; 5 days week⁻¹; treadmill 70–80% HR_max; 63 min; 5 days week⁻¹; treadmill	Weight, BMI, %fat, fitness
Donnelly et al. ⁴⁹ ^, ^a	USA	42	11/0/11 22/0/22 30/0/30	23.3 (3.4) 23.5 (3.2) 23.3 (3.7)	CON AE‐V AE‐V	No exercise 70–80% HR_max; 31 min; 5 days week⁻¹; treadmill 70–80% HR_max; 42 min; 5 days week⁻¹; treadmill	Weight, BMI, %fat, fitness
Foster‐Schubert et al. ⁵⁰	USA	52	87/87/0 117/117/0	57.4 (4.4) 58.1 (5)	CON AE‐V	No exercise 70–85% HR_max; 45 min; 5 days week⁻¹; treadmill or bike	Weight, BMI, WC, %fat, fitness
Frank et al. ⁵¹	USA	52	86/86/0 87/87/0	60.6 (6.6) 60.7 (6.7)	CON AE‐M	No exercise 60–75% HRR; 45 min; 5 days week⁻¹	BMI, %fat, TG, FBG
Gram et al. ⁵²	Denmark	26	18/9/9 35/19/16 39/21/18 38/20/18	35 35 33 36	CON AE‐M AE‐M AE‐V	No exercise 320 kcal (f)/425 kcal (m); 5 days week⁻¹, no intensity prescribed 320 kcal (f)/425 kcal (m); 5 days week⁻¹; 50% VO₂ peak 320 kcal (f)/425 kcal (m); 5 days week⁻¹; 70% VO₂ peak	BMI, fitness, HDL, TG
Herring et al. ⁵³	UK	12	10/−/− 11/−/− 12/−/−	24–68 ^d	CON R‐LM AE‐M	No exercise 60% 1RM; global exercises; 45–60 min; 3 days week⁻¹ 50–70% HR_max: 45–60 min; 3 days week⁻¹	BMI, WC, fitness
Hintze et al. ⁵⁴	Canada	52	34/24/0 36/36/0	29 25	CON R‐HI	No exercise 70–80% 1RM; global; 45 min; 3 days week⁻¹	Weight, BMI
Ho et al. ¹⁵ ^, ^b	Australia	12	21/−/− 25/−/− 26/−/− 25/−/−	52 (1.8) 55 (1.2) 52 (1.1) 53 (1.3)	CON AE‐M R‐ML COM‐ML	No exercise 60% HRR; 30 min; 5 days week⁻¹; walking 75% 1RM; 5 global exercises × 4 sets, 12 reps 60% HRR; 15 min; 5 days week⁻¹ and 75% 1RM; 5 global exercises × 2 sets, 12 reps	Weight, BMI, WC, %fat, HDL, TG, FBG
Ho et al. ¹⁴ ^, ^b	Australia	12	21/−/− 25/−/− 26/−/− 25/−/−	52 (1.8) 55 (1.2) 52 (1.1) 53 (1.3)	CON AE‐M R‐ML COM‐ML	No exercise 60% HRR; 30 min; 5 days week⁻¹; walking 75% 1RM; 5 global exercises × 4 sets, 12 reps 60% HRR; 15 min; 5 days week⁻¹ and 75% 1RM; 5 global exercises × 2 sets, 12 reps	BP
Irving et al. ⁵⁵	USA	16	9/9/0 15/15/0 12/12/0	51 (9) 51 (9) 51 (9)	CON AE‐M AE‐V	No exercise RPE 10–12; expenditure 400 kcal; 5 days week⁻¹ RPE 15–17; expenditure 400 kcal; 5 days week⁻¹	Weight, BMI, WC, %fat, fitness, BP, HDL, TG, FBG
Irwin et al. ⁵⁶	USA	52	86/86/0 85/85/0	60.5 (6.7) 60.6 (6.6)	CON AE‐M	No exercise 60–75% HRR; 45 min; 5 days week⁻¹	Weight, BMI, %fat
Jabbour ⁵⁷ ^, ^c	Canada	8	12/7/5 12/7/5	23.1 (3.3) 22.5 (2.3)	CON AE‐V	No exercise ~350% of VO_2max × 6 s, followed by 2‐min recovery × 6 times; total duration = 15 min; 3 days week⁻¹; cycle ergometer	Weight, BMI, fitness
Jabbour et al. ⁵⁸ ^, ^c	Canada	8	12/7/5 12/7/5	23.1 (3.3) 23.3 (3.3)	CON AE‐V	No exercise ~350% of VO_2max × 6 s, followed by 2‐min recovery × 6 times; total duration = 15 min; 3 days week⁻¹; cycle ergometer	Weight, BMI
Keating et al. ⁵⁹	Australia	8	12/9/3 12/6/6 12/7/5 12/9/3	39.1 (2.9) 44.2 (2.8) 45.5 (2.3) 45.6 (3.6)	CON AE‐V AE‐M AE‐M	No exercise 70% VO₂ peak; 45 min; 3 days week⁻¹ 50% VO₂ peak; 60 min; 4 days week⁻¹ 50% VO₂ peak; 45 min; 3 days week⁻¹	Weight, BMI, WC, fitness, BP, HDL, TG, FBG
Keating et al. ⁶⁰	Australia	8	14/12/2 15/13/2	44.2 (2.8) 45.4 (1.9)	CON R‐HI	No exercise 80–85% 1RM; global exercises; 45–60 min; 3 days week⁻¹	Weight, BMI, WC, fitness, BP, HDL, TG, FBG
Kline et al. ⁶¹	USA	12	16/8/9 27/12/15	45.9 (2.2) 47.6 (1.3)	CON COM‐LM	No exercise 60% HHR × 40 min; 4 days week⁻¹ and 8 global exercises; 2 sets × 12 reps; 2 days week⁻¹	Weight, WC, %fat
Mengistie et al. ⁶²	Ethiopia	12	35/6/29 35/5/30	45.3 (5.4) 46.2 (5.5)	CON COM‐LM	No exercise 60–80% HR_max; 20 min; 4 days week⁻¹; treadmill or bike and 70% 1RM; 7 exercise (2–3 sets, 12 reps); 20 min	Weight, BMI, WC, %fat, fitness, BP, FBG
Moghasdasi et al. ⁶³	Iran	12	8/0/8 8/0/8	41.2 (6.1) 41.2 (6.1)	CON AE‐V	No exercise Treadmill; 75–80% VO₂ peak; 45 min; 4 days week⁻¹	Weight, BMI, %fat, fitness, FBG
Mohanka et al. ⁶⁴	USA	52	86/86/0 85/85/0	60.5 (6.7) 60.6 (6.6)	CON AE‐M	No exercise 60–75% HRR; 45 min; 5 days week⁻¹	Weight, HDL, TG, fitness
Mora‐Rodriguez et al. ⁶⁵	Spain	26	20/−/− 20/−/−	54 (9) 54 (9)	CON AE‐V	No exercise HITT (90% HR_max × 4 min, 70% HR_max × 3 min) × 45 min; 3 days week⁻¹	Weight, BMI, WC, %fat, fitness, HDL, TG
Nunes et al. ⁶⁶	Brazil	16	13/13/0 13/13/0 12/12/0	54–65.5 ^d	CON R‐ML R‐ML	No exercise 70% 1RM; global; 3 sets/8–12 reps; 3 days week⁻¹ × 16 weeks 70% 1RM; global; 6 sets/8–12 reps; 3 days week⁻¹ × 16 weeks	BMI, WC, %fat, HDL, TG
Quist et al. ⁶⁷	Denmark	26	18/9/9 35/19/16 39/20/19 38/20/18	35 (7) 35 (7) 33 (7) 27 (7)	CON AE‐M AE‐M AE‐V	No exercise Commuting to and from work; 45 min; 5 days 50% VO_2max; 55 min; 5 days week⁻¹; treadmill/cycle ergometer 70% VO_2max; 37 min; 5 days week⁻¹; treadmill/cycle ergometer	Weight, BMI, fitness
Ross et al. ⁶⁸	Canada	26	70/49/26 73/49/24 76/49/27 76/49/27	52.2 (8.2) 52.1 (7.4) 50.9 (8.6) 50.3 (8.1)	CON AE‐M AE‐M AE‐V	No exercise 50% VO₂ peak; 31 min; 5 days week⁻¹; treadmill 50% VO₂ peak; 58 min; 5 days week⁻¹; treadmill 75% VO₂ peak; 40 min; 5 days week⁻¹; treadmill	Weight, BMI, WC, %fat, fitness, BP, HDL, TG, FBG
Rustaden et al. ⁶⁹	Norway	12	36/36/0 37/37/0 35/35/0 35/35/0	40 (10) 30 (10) 38 (9) 42 (11)	CON R‐HI R‐HI R‐HI	No exercise Body pump; 800 reps between 10 exercises; 60 min; 3 days week⁻¹ 80–90% 1RM; 8 global exercises; 45 min; 3 days week⁻¹ 80–90% 1RM; 8 global exercises; 45 min; 3 days week⁻¹	Weight, BMI, %fat
Sarsan et al. ²¹	Turkey	12	24/24/0 26/26/0 26/26/0	43.6 (6.46) 41.7 (7.62) 42.5 (10.7)	CON AE‐M R‐ML	No exercise 50–80% HRR; 30–45 min; 5 days week⁻¹; treadmill or bike 40–80% 1RM; 6 global exercises; 30–45 min; 3 days week⁻¹	Weight, BMI, WC, fitness, BP
Schroeder et al. ¹⁷	USA	8	17/11/6 17/10/7 17/10/7 18/11/7	58 (6) 58 (7) 57 (9) 58 (7)	CON AE‐V R‐HI COM‐HI	No exercise 85% HR_max; 60 min; 3 days week⁻¹; treadmill or bike 12 global exercises; 3 sets 10–14 maximal repetitions 30 min of aerobic and 30‐min resistance programme	Weight, BMI, WC, %fat, fitness, BP, HDL, TG, FBG
Sheikholeslami‐Vatani et al. ⁷⁰	Iran	8	10/0/10 10/0/10 10/0/10	23.2 (1.4) 23.2 (1.4) 23.2 (1.4)	CON COM‐HI COM‐HI	No exercise 80% HR_max; 10 min and 80% 1RM; 6 global exercises; 3 days week⁻¹ 80% HR_max; 10 min and 80% 1RM; 6 global exercises; 3 days week⁻¹	Weight, BMI, %fat
Soori et al. ⁷¹	Iran	8	8/8/0 8/8/0 8/8/0 8/8/0	45–60 ^d	CON AE‐M R‐ML COM‐ML	No exercise 40–75% HR_max; 45 min; 3 days week⁻¹; swimming/water walking 40–60% 1RM; 6 global exercises × 3 sets (12 reps); 3 days week⁻¹ 22‐min aerobic (AE‐M); 22‐min resistance (R‐ML) programmes	Weight, BMI, %fat, HDL, TG
Stensvold et al. ¹³	Norway	12	11/−/− 11/−/− 11/−/− 10/−/−	47.3 (10.2) 49.9 (10.1) 52.9 (10.4) 50.9 (7.6)	CON AE‐V R‐HI COM‐HI	No exercise 90–95% HRR; 4 min; 3‐min recovery; 4 times (45 min); 3 days week⁻¹; treadmill 80% 1RM; 3 sets, 8–12 reps; 5 global exercises; 45 min; 3 days week⁻¹ 90–95% HRR; 4 min; 3‐min recovery; 4 times (45 min); 1 day week⁻¹; treadmill and 80% 1RM; 3 sets, 8–12 reps; 5 global exercises; 45 min; 2 days week⁻¹	Weight, BMI, WC, fitness, BP, HDL, TG, FBG
Tjonne et al. ⁷²	Norway	16	10/5/5 10/5/5 12/5/7	49.6 (9) 52 (10.6) 55.3 (13.2)	CON AE‐M AE‐V	No exercise 70% HR_max; 45 min; 3 days week⁻¹; walking/running; treadmill 90% HR_max; 4 × 4‐min interval with 3 × 4‐min recovery	Weight, BMI, WC, fitness, BP, HDL
Tong et al. ⁷³	China	12	18/18/0 18/18/0 18/18/0	21.3 (1) 21.3 (1) 20.7 (1.5)	CON AE‐V AE‐V	No exercise 80 × 6 s all‐out cycle sprint with 9 s passive recovery; 4 days week⁻¹ 90% VO_2max × 4 min; 3‐min recovery (until 400 kJ achieved); 4 days week⁻¹	Weight, BMI, %fat, fitness
Tseng et al. ⁷⁴	Taiwan	12	10/0/10 10/0/10 10/0/10 10/0/10	22 (0.7) 22.2 (1.1) 21.3 (0.6) 22.3 (1)	CON AE‐M R‐ML COM‐ML	No exercise 50–70% HR_max; 60 min; 5 days week⁻¹ 50–80% 1RM; 8 global exercises 3 sets × 12 reps; 5 days week⁻¹ Aerobic (AE‐M) × 3 days and resistance (R‐ML) × 2 days	Weight, BMI, WC, BP, TG, FBG
Tumiati et al. ⁷⁵	Italy	38	25/21/4 27/14/13	51 (11) 48 (12)	CON COM‐LM	No exercise 10% below maximal intensity reached in the 2kmWT; 50 min; 1 day week⁻¹ and global resistance exercises; 2 days week⁻¹	Weight, BMI, WC, fitness
van Aggel‐Leijssen et al. ⁷⁶	Netherlands	12	8/8/0 7/7/0 6/6/0	42.5 (6.4) 32.8 (9.6) 37.7 (6.4)	CON AE‐M AE‐M	No exercise 40% VO_2max; 57 (6) min (250 kcal); 3 days week⁻¹; cycle ergometer 40% VO_2max; 57 (6) min (250 kcal); 3 days week⁻¹; cycle ergometer	Weight, BMI, %fat, fitness
van Aggel‐Leijssen et al. ⁷⁷	Netherlands	12	8/0/8 8/0/8 8/0/8	43.3 (5.4) 43.4 (6.3) 40 (6.3)	CON AE‐M AE‐V	No exercise 40% VO_2max; 57 (8) min (350 kcal); 3 days week⁻¹; cycle ergometer 70% VO_2max; 33 (2) min (350 kcal); 3 days week⁻¹; cycle ergometer	Weight, BMI, %fat, fitness

Note: –/–, gender not reported for specific groups.

Abbreviations: %fat, percentage body fat; 1RM, one repetition maximum; 2kmWT, 2‐km walk test; AE‐M, aerobic moderate intensity; AE‐V, aerobic vigorous intensity; BMI, body mass index; BP, blood pressure; COM‐HI, combination of high‐intensity aerobic and high‐load resistance exercise; COM‐LM, combination of low‐moderate intensity aerobic and low‐moderate load resistance exercise; CON, control group, no exercise; FBG, fasting blood glucose; FIT, fitness; HDL, high‐density lipoprotein; HITT, high‐intensity interval training; HR_max, heart rate maximum; HRR, heart rate reserve; R‐HI, resistance high load; R‐LM, resistance low‐moderate load; RPE, rate of perceived exertion; TG, triglycerides; VO₂, oxygen uptake; WC, waist circumference.

^{^a}

Donnelly—same study but results for men and women reported separately.

^{^b}

Ho—same study but outcomes measures reported in two separate papers.

^{^c}

Jabbour—same study but outcome measures reported in two separate papers.

^{^d}

Age range for entire study sample not mean (SD).