The effect of aerobic exercise on pathological apoptosis in conditions of high-fat diet feeding

Introduction: Obesity resulting from a high-fat diet (HFD) underlies many diseases, particularly chronic conditions. The prevalence of various cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular and renal disorders, as well as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been widely reported in the context of obesity. Material & Methods: The research methodology was a review, with data retrieved from Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and PubMed.. Results: Evidence indicates that obesity predisposes individuals to these diseases by multiple mechanisms. One such mechanism that has attracted significant research attention is pathological apoptosis. The past few decades have elucidated the molecular mechanisms involved in apoptotic signaling. These findings demonstrate that alterations in these pathways contribute to a range of diseases. HFD activates both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathways through lipotoxicity, inflammation, oxidative stress, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Evidence suggests that regular physical activity, especially moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, is one of the most effective non-pharmacological strategies for reducing HFD-induced pathological apoptosis. Aerobic exercise can reduce pathological apoptosis through various molecular mechanisms. These mechanisms include Increased fatty acid uptake and oxidation, reduced lipotoxicity, inflammation, oxidative stress, and ER stress.It inhibits both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathways, decreasing pathological apoptosis. Conclusion: Accordingly, it is evident that one of the molecular mechanisms by which aerobic exercise can systematically mitigate the adverse effects of HFD-induced obesity is through inhibition of pathological apoptosis in various tissues.