A recent systematic review examined the cardiometabolic effects of chronic exercise, specifically comparing older individuals with extensive exercise histories to their sedentary and active peers across various age groups.

The findings indicate that prolonged exercise training significantly enhances cardiometabolic markers in older athletes when compared to sedentary individuals of the same age.

Despite the positive impacts of chronic exercise on metabolic health, these benefits do not entirely counteract the effects of aging when older individuals are compared to younger sedentary counterparts.

From an initial pool of 25,910 studies, 24,809 were excluded, leading to a final selection of 61 studies that represented 75 cohorts for detailed analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis adhered to PRISMA guidelines and was registered under the protocol CRD42023477368.

Notably, the review did not require ethical approval and reported no funding or competing interests.

The significance of physical activity for public health is underscored by the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines, which recommend 60 minutes of daily activity for children and adolescents, and 150 to 300 minutes per week for adults.