Purpose: To describe the effects of physical exercise/activity on the vascular architecture of children and adolescents, as well as to identify the effects of inflammation and sedentary behaviors on this relationship.
Methods: Potentially relevant articles were identified in the databases MEDLINE and PubMed covering the period from 2000 to 2015. No language restrictions were applied.
Results: Thirteen articles were found that included obese boys and girls in their samples (aged 9-19). Six interventional studies assessed inflammation and in five of these, physical exercise decreased inflammation. In 10 studies, vascular architecture was affected by physical exercise/activity.
Conclusions: The impact of physical exercise on vascular architecture and inflammation seems relevant, but has been mainly investigated in obese groups.
Practical implications: Health professionals should act together in organized interventions in schools, targeting the promotion of higher physical activity levels in children and adolescents.
Keywords: Adolescent; arterial pressure; carotid intima-media thickness; inflammation; motor activity.
© 2016, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.