TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of Exercise Snacks on Cardiometabolic Health and Body Composition in Adults
T2 - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
AU - Wan, Ke-wen
AU - Dai, Zi-han
AU - Wong, Po-san
AU - Huang, Wendy Y.
AU - Lei, Evander Fung-chau
AU - Little, Jonathan P.
AU - Lin, Feng-Chang
AU - Tam, Bjorn T.
N1 - This study was funded by the Initiation Grant for Faculty Niche Research Area (160300), and Tier 1 Research Start-up Grants, Hong Kong Baptist University.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s). Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science In Sports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
PY - 2025/8
Y1 - 2025/8
N2 - This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to investigate the impact
of exercise snacks (ExSn), which involve incorporating short bursts of
high-intensity physical activity into daily routines, on improving
cardiometabolic health and body composition in adults. Six online
databases [PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of
Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), CINAHL, and Scopus] were searched from
inception through 22 May 2025, and relevant randomized controlled trials
(RCTs) and non-randomized controlled trials (non-RCTs) were identified.
Outcomes were analyzed using standardized mean differences and mean
differences with 95% confidence intervals. Subgroup analyses were
conducted based on physical activity levels and duration for each bout
of ExSn. The GRADE scale was used to assess evidence certainty, while
the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (RoB 2) was used to evaluate the
quality of RCTs, and the Risk of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of
Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool was used for non-RCTs. Twelve RCTs and two
non-RCTs, involving a total of 483 adults, were selected for the
systematic review; 13 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Among
the RCTs, 2 studies showed a high risk of bias, and 10 showed some
concerns. For the non-RCTs, 1 study had a moderate risk of bias, and 1
had a serious risk of bias. The ExSn group showed significant
improvements in maximal oxygen uptake (SMD = 1.43, 95% CI 0.61 to 2.25, p < 0.001) and peak power output (SMD = 0.68, 95% CI 0.00 to 1.36, p = 0.050), and reductions in total cholesterol (SMD = −0.65, 95% CI −1.18 to −0.11, p = 0.018) and LDL cholesterol (SMD = −0.65, 95% CI −1.22 to −0.09, p = 0.023).
No significant differences were found for body weight, body fat, HDL
cholesterol, or triglycerides. ExSn significantly enhances
cardiometabolic health, especially in physically inactive adults. As a
novel, time-efficient approach, ExSn can be easily integrated into daily
routines, offering a practical solution for sedentary and inactive
individuals or those with limited time. These findings highlight its
potential as a widely applicable public health strategy, warranting
further research on long-term effects and broader applications.
AB - This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to investigate the impact
of exercise snacks (ExSn), which involve incorporating short bursts of
high-intensity physical activity into daily routines, on improving
cardiometabolic health and body composition in adults. Six online
databases [PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of
Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), CINAHL, and Scopus] were searched from
inception through 22 May 2025, and relevant randomized controlled trials
(RCTs) and non-randomized controlled trials (non-RCTs) were identified.
Outcomes were analyzed using standardized mean differences and mean
differences with 95% confidence intervals. Subgroup analyses were
conducted based on physical activity levels and duration for each bout
of ExSn. The GRADE scale was used to assess evidence certainty, while
the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (RoB 2) was used to evaluate the
quality of RCTs, and the Risk of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of
Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool was used for non-RCTs. Twelve RCTs and two
non-RCTs, involving a total of 483 adults, were selected for the
systematic review; 13 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Among
the RCTs, 2 studies showed a high risk of bias, and 10 showed some
concerns. For the non-RCTs, 1 study had a moderate risk of bias, and 1
had a serious risk of bias. The ExSn group showed significant
improvements in maximal oxygen uptake (SMD = 1.43, 95% CI 0.61 to 2.25, p < 0.001) and peak power output (SMD = 0.68, 95% CI 0.00 to 1.36, p = 0.050), and reductions in total cholesterol (SMD = −0.65, 95% CI −1.18 to −0.11, p = 0.018) and LDL cholesterol (SMD = −0.65, 95% CI −1.22 to −0.09, p = 0.023).
No significant differences were found for body weight, body fat, HDL
cholesterol, or triglycerides. ExSn significantly enhances
cardiometabolic health, especially in physically inactive adults. As a
novel, time-efficient approach, ExSn can be easily integrated into daily
routines, offering a practical solution for sedentary and inactive
individuals or those with limited time. These findings highlight its
potential as a widely applicable public health strategy, warranting
further research on long-term effects and broader applications.
KW - cardiometabolic health
KW - exercise snacks
KW - intermittent exercise
KW - meta-analysis
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105013229120
U2 - 10.1111/sms.70114
DO - 10.1111/sms.70114
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 40814152
AN - SCOPUS:105013229120
SN - 0905-7188
VL - 35
JO - Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports
JF - Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports
IS - 8
M1 - e70114
ER -
