Peripubertal Physical Activity in Male Wistar Rats Helps to Prove the Concept of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease

Introduction The global rise in obesity, driven by sedentary lifestyles and poor eating habits, presents significant public health and economic challenges. Obesity is a risk factor for several non-communicable diseases; moreover, it impacts childhood and puberty, critical windows for metabolic programming, which increases the risk of developing metabolic disorders in adulthood. Physical exercise has emerged as an effective strategy to prevent and manage obesity, promoting chronic adaptations that enhance quality of life. Considering the developmental plasticity of the peripubertal phase, we hypothesized that aerobic training during this period could reverse the metabolic programming induced by early obesity. Methods Using the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) framework, male Wistar rats were overfed during lactation to induce early obesity. A moderate-intensity aerobic training protocol was applied only during the peripubertal period (30–60 d of age), and its metabolic effects were assessed at day 120. To prove that adulthood is not a plastic window, the same training protocol was performed during adulthood (90–120 d), with assessments at 180 d. Results Our results revealed that early-onset obesity in male rats leads to accelerated puberty and weight gain, whereas aerobic training implemented during peripuberty, but not during adulthood, effectively managed weight gain. It also preserved maximal running capacity and oxygen consumption efficiency, and positively influenced lipid metabolism, fat accumulation, and muscle mass. Conclusion Thus, our study highlights the importance of adolescence as a critical period to reverse and mitigate the consequences of early metabolic programming.