{ "abstract": "Background\n\nPhysical activity is important for healthy ageing, yet participation is socially patterned and often lower among older adults experiencing disadvantage. This rapid systematic review updates and extends previous evidence by examining differential effectiveness of individual-level physical activity interventions in older adults at differing levels of advantage/disadvantage, and experiences of engaging in interventions.Methods\n\nRapid review followed Cochrane guidance and PRISMA-Equity reporting. MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Plus and grey literature were searched for studies published from 2015 to November 2024 in high-income countries. Eligible studies (randomised, non-randomised and qualitative designs) evaluated individual-level interventions to promote physical activity or reduce sedentary behaviour among adults aged ≥ 50 years. Disadvantage and marginalisation were operationalised using PROGRESS-Plus. Data were synthesised narratively by population group, disadvantage characteristic and intervention type. Where possible, random-effects meta-analyses were conducted using MET-minutes. Risk of bias was assessed using adapted Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, and certainty of evidence using GRADE.Results\n\nForty-seven studies were included (n = 9071 participants). Only six studies examined differential effects between disadvantaged and more advantaged groups, and evidence was low or very low certainty. There was low-certainty evidence that behavioural interventions increase physical activity similarly for women and men, but evidence was insufficient for conclusions by education, marital status or race/ethnicity/culture. Evidence of moderate certainty suggests that physical activity, educational, and multicomponent interventions can increase physical activity in individuals from minoritised ethnic groups. Evidence on the effectiveness of multicomponent interventions in women is of moderate certainty, but findings are mixed. Evidence for interventions with individuals of low socioeconomic status or living in rural areas was of very low certainty. We found no studies with other disadvantaged/marginalised groups. Qualitative findings highlight that barriers and enablers to physical activity are similar across disadvantaged/marginalised groups.Conclusions\n\nEvidence remains insufficient to determine whether individual-level physical activity interventions are equitable across disadvantaged and more advantaged older adults. Targeted community-based interventions for minoritised ethnic groups show promise, but broader evidence gaps persist. Future evaluations should routinely collect and report PROGRESS-Plus characteristics, assess differential effects, address intersectional disadvantage, and use standardised physical activity outcomes to inform equitable policy and practice.", "abstract_shown": true, "affiliations": [ "National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Healthy Ageing, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. lisa.mcgarrigle@atu.ie.", "Faculty of Science and Health, Atlantic Technological University, Co. Mayo, Castlebar, F23 X853, Ireland. lisa.mcgarrigle@atu.ie.", "National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Healthy Ageing, Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE4 5PL, UK.", "School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.", "School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester (ARC-GM), The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.", "National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Healthy Ageing, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.", "National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Healthy Ageing, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. christodd@manchester.ac.uk.", "School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. christodd@manchester.ac.uk.", "School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester (ARC-GM), The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. christodd@manchester.ac.uk.", "Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK. christodd@manchester.ac.uk." ], "article_type": "systematic review", "arxiv": null, "author_total": 15, "authors": [ { "affs": [ 0, 1 ], "name": "Lisa McGarrigle" }, { "affs": [ 2 ], "name": "Gemma Spiers" }, { "affs": [ 3, 4 ], "name": "Chunhu Shi" }, { "affs": [ 5 ], "name": "Abodunrin Aminu" }, { "affs": [ 5 ], "name": "Nisar Ahmed" }, { "affs": [ 2 ], "name": "Tafadzwa Patience Kunonga" }, { "affs": [ 2 ], "name": "Fiona Beyer" }, { "affs": [ 2 ], "name": "Jabez Barnabas" }, { "affs": [ 5, 4 ], "name": "Danielle Harris" }, { "affs": [ 5 ], "name": "Katie Davies" }, { "affs": [ 5, 4 ], "name": "Yang Yang" }, { "affs": [ 5, 4 ], "name": "Schenelle Dlima" }, { "affs": [ 5 ], "name": "Jane McDermott" }, { "affs": [ 2 ], "name": "Barbara Hanratty" }, { "affs": [ 6, 7, 8, 9 ], "name": "Chris Todd" } ], "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2x3k3s9ygdymr.bib", "cited_by": 0, "doi": "10.1186/s12889-026-28389-8", "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13753334", "id": "2x3k3s9ygdymr", "issns": [ "1471-2458" ], "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/43009851", "language": "eng", "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND", "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND", "licence_source": "article", "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/", "metadata_licence": null, "native_subjects": [ [ "heading", "Systematic Review" ], [ "openalex", "2739|Physical Activity and Health" ] ], "openalex": "W7171893921", "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13753334?pdf=render", "pmcid": "PMC13753334", "pmid": "43009851", "published": "2026-07-30", "publisher": "BMC", "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2x3k3s9ygdymr.ris", "sources": [ { "first_seen": "2026-11-12T15:22:59Z", "native_id": "MED:43009851", "source": "europepmc", "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/43009851" }, { "first_seen": "2026-11-15T12:22:29Z", "native_id": "PMC13753334", "source": "pmc", "url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28389-8" } ], "subjects": [ { "field": "medicine", "origin": "openalex:2739|Physical Activity and Health", "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health" } ], "title": "Promoting physical activity amongst disadvantaged and marginalised older adults: a rapid systematic review with meta-analysis.", "title_text": "Promoting physical activity amongst disadvantaged and marginalised older adults: a rapid systematic review with meta-analysis.", "type": "peer-reviewed", "updated_at": "2026-11-15T12:22:29Z", "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2x3k3s9ygdymr", "venue": "BMC public health", "versions": [] }