Obesity is currently one of the major epidemics and a public health problem that endangers human health worldwide in recent years. Obesity is a state of chronic low-grade systemic inflammation accompanied by infiltration and alteration of some inflammatory cells, as well as disorders of adipocytokines. Leptin is a protein-like hormone secreted by white fat cells and a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in regulating energy homeostasis and metabolism. Exercise interventions decrease levels of pro-inflammatory factors (leptin, TNF-α, IL-6) and increase levels of anti-inflammatory factors (adiponectin) in obese individuals, suggesting that exercise can delay the occurrence of inflammatory responses. We systematically reviewed the role of exercise interventions in the regulation of obesity-related chronic inflammation, mainly including their effects on specific adipocytokines (leptin, adiponectin), IL-6 and TNF-α, focusing on the physiological functions of leptin and the underlying mechanism. The aim of the present review was to investigate the mechanism by which exercise interventions result in weight loss, lipid-lowering and the reduction of chronic inflammation, providing a new perspective for the prevention and treatment of chronic metabolic diseases.