# Teenagers with Obesity at the Gym: Recommendations for Physical Activity, Diet, and Supplementation—A Narrative Review

## TL;DR

This review offers safe and effective gym-based strategies for obese teenagers, combining strength training, diet, and supplements to improve health outcomes.

## Contribution

The paper provides tailored gym-based interventions and interdisciplinary strategies for obese youth, emphasizing safety and sustainability.

## Key findings

- Over 80% of adolescents do not meet WHO physical activity guidelines.
- Strength training is a viable alternative to aerobic exercise for obese youth.
- Dietary approaches like the Mediterranean and DASH diets are recommended alongside training.

## Abstract

Child and adolescent obesity represents a growing public health crisis, with profound implications for physical and mental well-being. Despite the well-established benefits of physical activity, over 80% of adolescents fail to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations for daily exercise. This manuscript explores gym-based strength training as a tailored intervention for obese youth who often struggle with aerobic activities. This paper critically examines medical eligibility, safety protocols, and injury risks while also detailing personalized training regimens that prioritize neuromuscular adaptation, functional strength, and long-term engagement. Additionally, it integrates evidence-based dietary strategies and supplementation practices appropriate for this age group, highlighting the role of the Mediterranean diet, DASH, and the cautious use of supplementation, particularly probiotics and protein, while discouraging performance-enhancing substances in youth. Emphasis is placed on interdisciplinary approaches, combining exercise, nutrition, and medical oversight to support holistic treatment. This study identifies gaps in the current literature and provides practical recommendations for designing safe, effective, and sustainable gym-based interventions for children with obesity, encouraging further research to validate these protocols in clinical settings. A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, Science Direct, and EBSCO, focusing on English-language meta-analyses, systematic reviews, randomized clinical trials, and observational studies. The websites of prominent scientific organizations such as WHO, APP, and AIS were also reviewed. The selection of articles was a collaborative effort among all authors.