(A) characteristics of exercise studies and (B) characteristics of caloric restriction studies
| Study | Comorbidity | Age* (years) | BMI* (kg/m2) | WC* (cm) | Duration (wk) | Groups† | N (M/F) | Measure |
| A | ||||||||
| Abdelbasset et al 63–65 2019, 2020a, b * † | NAFLD, T2DM | 40–60 | ≥30 | NR | 8 | HIIT (1) MICT (2) CON | 16 (10/6) 15 (8/7) 16 (9/7) | MRI‡ |
| Blond et al 41 2019 | None | 20–45 | 25–35 | NR | 24 | MOD (1) VIG (2) CON | 23 (12/11)§ 17 (7/10)§ 12 (6/6)§ | MRI |
| Cho et al 42 2011 | None | 34–60 | ≥25 | NR | 12 | HI (1) LI (2) CON | 12 (0/12) 13 (0/13) 10 (0/10) | CT |
| Coker et al 35 2009* | None | 50–80 | 26 to <40 | NR | 12 | AE CON | 9 (3/6) 8 (3/5) | CT |
| Coker et al 35 2009† ¶ | None | 65–90 | 26 to <37 | NR | 12 | HI (1) MI (2) CON | 6 (3/3) 6 (3/3) 6 (3/3) | CT |
| Cowan et al 40 2018 | None | 35–65 | NR | M>102 F>88 | 24 | LILV (1) LIHV (2) HIHV (3) CON | 24 (14/10) 31 (20/11) 40 (19/11) 20 (10/10) | MRI |
| Davidson et al 66 2009¶ | None | 60–80 | 27–34.9‡ | M≥102 F≥88 | 24 | AE CON | 37 (17/20) 28 (11/17) | MRI |
| Hallsworth et al 67 2015 | NAFLD | 30–70‡ | 25–35‡ | NR | 12 | HIIT CON | 12 (NR) 11 (NR) | MRI |
| Hong et al 68 2014 | None | 30–40 | >25 | NR | 12 | AE CON | 10 (0/10) 10 (0/10) | CT |
| Irving et al 69 70 2008, 2009 | MetS | MA | NR | IDF | 16 | HI (1) LI (2) CON | 11 (3/8) 13 (3/10) 10 (4/6) | CT |
| Johnson et al 29 2009 | None | >18§ | ≥30 | NR | 4 | AE CON | 12 (NR) 7 (NR) | MRI |
| Jung et al 71 2012 | T2DM | 45–65 | >23 | NR | 12 | MOD (1) VIG (2) CON | 8 (0/8) 8 (0/8) 12 (0/12) | CT |
| Keating et al 72 2015 | Pre-diabetes‡ | 29–59 | >25 | NR | 8 | HILV (1) LIHV (2) LILV (3) CON | 12 (6/6) 12 (5/7) 12 (3/9) 12 (3/9) | MRI |
| Keating et al 73 2017 | Pre-diabetes‡ | 29–59 | ≥25 | NR | 8 | RT CON | 15 (2/13) 14 (2/12) | MRI |
| Koo et al 39 2010 | T2DM | > 18 | >23 | NR | 12 | AE CON | 13 (0/13) 18 (0/18) | CT |
| Lee et al 74 2012¶ | None | 30–50 | >25 | >80 | 14 | HI (1) LI (2) CON | 7 (0/7) 8 (0/8) 7 (0/7) | CT |
| Lesser et al 75 2016 | None | PM | NR | ≥80 | 12 | AE CON | 23 (0/23) 26 (0/26) | CT |
| Nordby et al
38 2012 Bladbjerg et al 76 2017 | None | 20–40 | 25–30 | NR | 12 | AE CON | 12 (12/0) 12 (12/0) | MRI |
| Pugh et al
77 2014¶ Cuthbertson et al 78 2016¶ | NAFLD | 20–65‡ | 27–35‡ | NR | 16 | AE CON | 30 (23/7) 20 (16/4) | MRI |
| Reichkendler et al 79 2013 | None | 20–40 | 25–30 | NR | 11 | HV (1) MV (2) CON | 14 (14/0) 13 (13/0) 9 (9/0) | MRI |
| Ross et al
36 2000 Thong et al 80 2000 | None | >18§ | >27 | >100 | 12 | AE CON | 16 (16/0) 8 (8/0) | MRI |
| Ross et al 37 2004 | None | >18 | >27 | >88 | 14 | AE CON | 17 (0/17) 10 (0/10) | MRI |
| Saremi et al 81 2010 | None | MA | ≥25 | NR | 12 | AE CON | 11 (11/0) 10 (10/0) | CT |
| Schmitz et al 82 2007 | None | 25–44 | 25–35 | NR | 96 | RT CON | 82 (0/82) 82 (0/82) | CT |
| Shojaee-Moradie et al 83 2007 | None | >18§ | 25–30 | NR | 6 | AE CON | 10 (10/0) 7 (7/0) | CT |
| Slentz et al 84 2005 | Dyslipidaemia | 40–65 | 25–35 | NR | 24 | HIHV (1) HILV (2) MILV (3) CON | 42 (23/19) 46 (23/23) 40 (22/18) 47 (23/24) | CT |
| Wu et al 85 2017 | None | 30–50 | ≥30 | NR | 12 | HI (1) LI (2) CON | 14 (0/14) 11 (0/11) 12 (0/12) | CT |
| Zhang et al 86 2015 | None | NR | ≥25 | NR | 12 | HIIT (1) MICT (2) CON | 12 (0/12) 12 (0/12) 11 (0/11) | CT |
| Zhang et al 87 2016 | NAFLD | 40–65 | NR | M≥90 F≥85 | 24 | MOD (1) VIG (2) CON | 73 (22/51) 73 (21/52) 74 (28/46) | CT |
| Zhang et al 88 2017 | None | 18–22 | ≥25 | NR | 12 | HIIT (1) MICT (2) CON | 15 (0/15) 15 (0/15) 13 (0/13) | CT |
| B | ||||||||
| Bouchonville et al
89 2014 Napoli et al 90 2014 | Mild-to-moderate frailty | ≥65 | ≥30 | NR | 48 | CR CON | 26 (9/17) 27 (9/18) | MRI |
| Brennan et al 91 2021 | None | 60–80 | ≥30 | NR | 24 | CR CON | 21 (7/14) 20 (7/13) | MRI |
| Coker et al 35 2009* | None | 50–80 | 26 to <40 | NR | 12 | CR CON | 9 (3/6) 8 (3/5) | CT |
| Ibáñez et al
92 2010 Idoate et al 93 2011 García-Unciti et al 94 2012 | None | 40–60 | 30–40 | NR | 16 | WL CON | 12 (0/12) 9 (0/9) | MRI |
| Kang et al 95 2018 | None | 20– 65‡ | 25 to <30 | NR | 12 | LCD CON | 47 (13/34) 50 (14/36) | CT |
| Koo et al 39 2010 | T2DM | > 18 | > 23 | NR | 12 | CR CON | 19 (0/19) 18 (0/18) | CT |
| Larson-Meyer et al 96 97 2006, 2010 Redman et al 98 99 2007, 2010 | None | 25–50 M 25–45 F | 25–30 | NR | 24 | CR CON | 12 (6/6) 11 (5/6) | CT |
| Lee et al 100 2018 | None | 20–60 | 25 to <30 | NR | 12 | WL WM | 37 (15/22) 38 (11/27) | CT |
| Ng et al 101 102 2007, 2009 Chan et al 103 2008 | MetS | > 18§ | NR | IDF | 14 | WL WM | 20 (20/0) 15 (15/0) | MRI |
| Nordby et al
38 2012 Bladbjerg et al 76 2017 | None | 20–40 | 25–30 | NR | 12 | CR CON | 12 (12/0) 12 (12/0) | MRI |
| Ross et al
36 2000 Thong et al 80 2000 | None | >18§ | >27 | >100 | 12 | CR CON | 14 (14/0) 8 (8/0) | MRI |
| Ross et al 37 2004 | None | >18 | >27 | >88 | 14 | WL CON | 15 (0/15) 10 (0/10) | MRI |
| Schübel et al 104 2018 | None | 35–65 | 25 to <40 | NR | 12 | CR CON | 48 (NR) 49 (NR) | MRI |
| Schutte et al 105 2022 | None | 40–70 | >27 | M>102 F>88 | 12 | LNCR (1) HNCR (2) CON | 39 (16/23) 34 (15/19) 27 (12/15) | MRI |
| Trepanowski et al 106 2018 | None | 18–65 | 25 to <40 | NR | 24 | CR CON | 29 (6/23) 25 (4/21) | MRI |
*Inclusion criteria unless otherwise specified.
†Study arms being synthesised.
‡Retrieved from clinical trial registration.
§Ascertained from study investigators.
¶Not included in the meta-analysis due to insufficient data.
AE, aerobic exercise; BMI, body mass index; CON, control group; CR, caloric restriction; EX, exercise; HI, high intensity; HIIT, high-intensity interval training; HN, High nutrient; HV, high volume; IDF, International Diabetes Federation; LCD, low-calorie diet; LI, low intensity; LN, Low nutrient; LV, low volume; MA, middle aged; MetS, metabolic syndrome; MetS, metabolic syndrome; MICT, moderate-intensity continuous training; MI/MOD, moderate intensity; MV, moderate volume; NAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; NR, not reported; PM, postmenopausal; RT, resistance training; T2DM, type II diabetes mellitus; VIG, vigorous intensity; WC, waist circumference; WL, weight loss; WM, weight maintenance.