The prevalence of obesity and diabetes mellitus has increased significantly in recent years and the knowledge that adipose tissue has endocrine activity and plays important roles in regulating inflammation and energy metabolism by molecular mechanisms among others is a source of new studies. This study is aimed at assessing the molecular mechanisms involved in obesity and diabetes mainly in peripheral tissues as well as the relationship of exercise in this context in the form of a literature review. The methodology used was a bibliographic survey in the main databases SciELO and PubMed of articles published between 1998 and 2012. Studies have demonstrated an interrelation between molecular mechanisms involved in the development of obesity and diabetes in central and peripheral tissues. Several studies have shown that physical exercise greatly contributes to the reduction of prevalence, control and even in the treatment of obesity and diabetes. However, there is need for further studies relating various types of exercise at different intensities and volumes and preferably with humans, as well as the study model, that when using animals, exercise programs should be developed concurrently with fat-rich diets in order to assess physical exercise and its role in the prevention of these diseases.
Exercise; Insulin resistance; Obesity