Research progress on exercise therapy in cancer-related sarcopenic obesity

Zhang Shanshan; Liu Hongkun; Wei Yulian

doi:10.16689/j.cnki.cn11-9349/r.2026.01.005

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Electronic Journal of Metabolism and Nutrition of Cancer ›› 2026, Vol. 13 ›› Issue (1) : 26-31. DOI: 10.16689/j.cnki.cn11-9349/r.2026.01.005

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Research progress on exercise therapy in cancer-related sarcopenic obesity

¹Zhang Shanshan, ¹Liu Hongkun, ²Wei Yulian

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Abstract

Cancer-related sarcopenic obesity is a metabolic syndrome characterized by progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and abnormal fat accumulation, with high prevalence among cancer patients, particularly in the digestive system. This syndrome not only significantly impairs physical function but also exacerbates adverse effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, reduces treatment tolerance, and leads to poor prognosis, becoming a critical clinical issue affecting the quality of life and long-term outcomes for cancer patients. Exercise intervention, as a core non-pharmacological treatment strategy, plays a positive role through multiple mechanisms including improving body composition, regulating glucose-lipid metabolic pathways, and inhibiting chronic inflammation, making it particularly significant for patients with cancer-related sarcopenic obesity. This systematic review examines the application effects, mechanisms, and implementation plans of aerobic exercise, resistance training, high-intensity interval training, and multimodal combined exercise in patients with cancer-related sarcopenic obesity. It summarizes dose-response relationships and safety parameters for different exercise modalities. Additionally, the study addresses key challenges in current clinical practice, such as insufficient standardization of exercise prescriptions, poor long-term patient adherence, and lack of individualized protocols. Future research priorities are proposed to guide exercise rehabilitation strategies for patients with cancer-related sarcopenic obesity.

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Cancer / Sarcopenia / Sarcopenic obesity / Exercise therapy / Resistance training / Aerobic exercise / Body composition / Rehabilitation

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Zhang Shanshan, Liu Hongkun, Wei Yulian. Research progress on exercise therapy in cancer-related sarcopenic obesity[J]. Electronic Journal of Metabolism and Nutrition of Cancer. 2026, 13(1): 26-31 https://doi.org/10.16689/j.cnki.cn11-9349/r.2026.01.005

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