Maternal and paternal obesity and type 2 diabetes are recognized risk factors for the development of metabolic dysfunction in offspring, even when the offspring follow a healthful lifestyle. Multiple studies have demonstrated that regular physical activity in mothers and fathers has striking beneficial effects on offspring health, including preventing the development of metabolic disease in rodent offspring as they age. Here, we review the benefits of maternal and paternal exercise in combating the development of metabolic dysfunction in adult offspring, focusing on offspring glucose homeostasis and adaptations to metabolic tissues. We discuss recent findings regarding the roles of the placenta and sperm in mediating the effects of parental exercise on offspring metabolic health, as well as the mechanisms hypothesized to underlie these beneficial changes. Given the worldwide epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes, if these findings translate to humans, regular exercise during the reproductive years might limit the vicious cycles in which increased metabolic risk propagates across generations.

母婴肥胖和2型糖尿病是公认的后代代谢功能障碍发展的危险因素，即使后代遵循健康的生活方式。多项研究表明，定期进行母亲和父亲的体育锻炼对后代的健康具有显着的有益影响，包括防止啮齿类后代随着年龄增长而发生代谢性疾病。在这里，我们回顾了母亲和父亲运动在对抗成年后代代谢功能障碍发展中的益处，重点是后代葡萄糖稳态和对代谢组织的适应性。我们讨论了有关胎盘和精子在调解父母运动对后代代谢健康的影响方面的最新发现，以及被认为是这些有益变化基础的机制。考虑到肥胖和2型糖尿病的全球流行，如果这些发现能转化为人类，那么在生殖年定期运动可能会限制恶性循环，在这种恶性循环中，新陈代谢的风险会世代相传。