Chinese Guidelines for Exercise Prescription in Adults with Overweight and Obesity

As a key element of lifestyle interventions, exercise remains a central strategy for managing overweight and obesity in adults. In China, however, exercise guidelines tailored specifically to adults with overweight and obesity and informed by the most up-to-date evidence have been lacking. In response, the Working Group developed the Exercise Prescription Guidelines for Adults with Overweight and Obesity. The guideline was developed in accordance with established international and national standards. The process began with identifying key clinical questions. This was followed by a systematic search, appraisal, and synthesis of evidence from both domestic and international studies. The guideline incorporated 414 randomized controlled trials and generated 40 recommendations, covering pre-exercise assessment, principles for exercise prescription development, special considerations, and exercise intervention protocols. The exercise intervention protocols tailored to different populations and contexts encompass the following four aspects: 1) Exercise interventions for adults with overweight or obesity; 2) exercise combined with caloric restriction or pharmacotherapy; 3) exercise interventions for individuals with overweight/obesity and common chronic diseases (e.g., type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, metabolic dysfunction–associated fatty liver disease, polycystic ovary syndrome); 4) exercise intervention strategies supported by mobile health technologies. This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for clinicians and allied health professionals working in the fields of exercise science, medicine, nutrition, and related disciplines. It is intended to enhance the quality, consistency, and practical application of exercise-based strategies for managing overweight and obesity.