Abstract：Chronic surplus energy intake causes the human body to store extra energy as lipids in adipocytes through hyperplasia and hypertrophy. This overloads the metabolism and increases the overproduction of inflammatory cytokines and the infiltration of inflammatory cells into adipose tissue. The increasing release of inflammatory adipokines results in chronic low-grade systematic inflammation (meta-inflammation), leading to obesity-related diseases. Following keyword searches in Google Scholar, PubMed, and Medline, this article conducts a literature review and descriptive analysis that examines 47 related articles published between 2000 and 2019. Exploring the effect and normalization of exercise intervention on adipose tissue functions in overweight or obese persons, it examines and discusses metabolic function; the development of adipose tissue, visceral fat, and subcutaneous fat; the risk of obesity-related diseases; and the effect of exercise on adipokines and adipose function. Results confirm that exercise that includes aerobics, combined strength training, and high intensity interval training may change molecular expression (certain microRNA and genes) in adipocytes. Exercise training also improves cardiorespiratory fitness, promotes the function of adipose tissue, restores the homeostasis between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory adipokines, and reduces the risks of obesity-related diseases. Therefore, we suggest that health promotion for the obese should emphasize regular and increasing physical activity and exercise. Whether other exercise types or changes in the intensity, duration or frequency of exercise also exert these effects is worth further investigation. (Full text)