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Acute effects of exercise snacks on postprandial glucose and insulin metabolism in adults with obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Systematic review of seventeen crossover or parallel acute trials (261 adults with obesity): brief activity breaks versus uninterrupted sitting reduced glucose incremental AUC (SMD −0.49) and insulin iAUC (SMD −0.26), with exploratory signals favouring ≤30-minute interruption cadences and walking or simple resistance.
Design
- PRISMA 2020 SR + MA; databases through 10 Jul 2025
- Included: 17 trials; 261 adults with obesity; activity breaks vs uninterrupted sitting
- Co-primary: glucose iAUC, insulin iAUC
Pooled standardized effects (random effects; abstract)
- Glucose iAUC: SMD −0.49 (95% CI −0.85 to −0.14; I² = 76%)
- Insulin iAUC: SMD −0.26 (95% CI −0.50 to −0.03; I² = 44%)
- Mean insulin: SMD −0.54 (95% CI −0.97 to −0.10; I² = 76%)
Practical translation
Authors summarise 2–5 min light-to-moderate walking or simple resistance about every ≤30 min as a pragmatic exercise snack template—still acute-lab evidence.
Publication
Chang Y, Wang H, Zhang X, Liu H. Front Nutr. 2025 Nov 20;12:1708301. PMID 41356824.
Outcomes
- Effect Size (Cohen's d / SMD)-0.49d (Cohen's d)
- Effect Size (Cohen's d / SMD)-0.26d (Cohen's d)