Effects of Aerobic Exercise on VO₂max in Overweight and Obese Adolescents: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Overweight and obesity in adolescents are associated with reduced cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and increased cardiometabolic risk. Although aerobic exercise is widely recommended, its effectiveness in improving maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂max) in this population remains inconsistent.

Objective: To systematically evaluate the effects of aerobic exercise on VO₂max in overweight and obese adolescents.

Methods: This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines and the PICOS framework. Literature searches were conducted in Scopus, PubMed, Semantic Scholar, and Google Scholar up to March 2026. Studies were screened independently by two reviewers. Eligible studies included experimental and quasi-experimental designs involving adolescents (10–19 years) with overweight or obesity, receiving aerobic exercise interventions, and reporting VO₂max or VO₂peak outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed using standard tools. Due to heterogeneity, a narrative synthesis was performed.

Results: Six studies were included. Aerobic exercise improved VO₂max across all studies, with increases ranging from +2.12 to +6.10 mL/kg/min in intervention groups compared to +0.34 to +1.70 mL/kg/min in controls. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) consistently produced greater improvements than moderate-intensity continuous training (p < 0.05). Reductions in body fat and body mass index were also reported. Methodological limitations and moderate risk of bias were observed.

Conclusion: Aerobic exercise, particularly HIIT, improves VO₂max in overweight and obese adolescents. The overall strength of evidence is moderate, supporting the use of structured, time-efficient aerobic exercise programs in this population.