Promoting physical activity amongst disadvantaged and marginalised older adults: a rapid systematic review with meta-analysis.
10 affiliations
- 1National 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. [email protected].
- 2Faculty of Science and Health, Atlantic Technological University, Co. Mayo, Castlebar, F23 X853, Ireland. [email protected].
- 3National 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.
- 4School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
- 5School 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.
- 6National 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.
- 7National 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. [email protected].
- 8School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. [email protected].
- 9School 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. [email protected].
- 10Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
Physical 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
Rapid 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
Forty-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
Evidence 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.
Related
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BibTeX
@article{mcgarrigle2026promoting,
title = {{Promoting physical activity amongst disadvantaged and marginalised older adults: a rapid systematic review with meta-analysis.}},
author = {Lisa McGarrigle and Gemma Spiers and Chunhu Shi and Abodunrin Aminu and Nisar Ahmed and Tafadzwa Patience Kunonga and Fiona Beyer and Jabez Barnabas and Danielle Harris and Katie Davies and Yang Yang and Schenelle Dlima and Jane McDermott and Barbara Hanratty and Chris Todd},
journal = {BMC public health},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12889-026-28389-8},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/43009851},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Promoting physical activity amongst disadvantaged and marginalised older adults: a rapid systematic review with meta-analysis.
AU - Lisa McGarrigle
AU - Gemma Spiers
AU - Chunhu Shi
AU - Abodunrin Aminu
AU - Nisar Ahmed
AU - Tafadzwa Patience Kunonga
AU - Fiona Beyer
AU - Jabez Barnabas
AU - Danielle Harris
AU - Katie Davies
AU - Yang Yang
AU - Schenelle Dlima
AU - Jane McDermott
AU - Barbara Hanratty
AU - Chris Todd
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/30
JO - BMC public health
DO - 10.1186/s12889-026-28389-8
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/43009851
AB - Background Physical 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 Rapid 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 Forty-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 Evidence 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.
SN - 1471-2458
ER -