Building the future for active ageing: a scoping meta-review of progress and prospects for physical activity promotion in later life.

Authors

Abby C King, Patricia Rodriguez Espinosa, Corey M Rovzar, Eduardo De la Vega-Taboada, Afroditi Stathi

Published in

The lancet. Healthy longevity. Pages 100915. Aug 27, 2027. Epub Aug 27, 2027.

Abstract

Regular physical activity is among the most beneficial health-related investments people can make, particularly as they age. However, many older adults (aged 45 years and older) worldwide remain insufficiently active to obtain its many related benefits. This Series paper reviews current strategies and identifies research gaps and future directions for physical activity interventions that are effective and potentially resource efficient. Using a socioecological framework, we conducted a scoping meta-review of reviews on older adults published between 2010 and 2025 in the PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, and CINAHL databases, with 12 reviews considered as relevant and supplemented with 80 other relevant articles based on the areas identified. The Series paper describes effective physical activity interventions and highlights emerging directions for intervention at the micro, meso, and macro socioecological levels. From this synthesis, we describe 11 priority directions for physical activity interventions, including embedding participatory approaches in strengthening the strategies for long-term physical activity maintenance and implementation; embedding climate-related considerations into programme design for older adults; expanding investigations of under-researched yet promising intervention formats, content areas, and delivery contexts; leveraging technology to enhance intervention reach and older adult participation and inclusion; ensuring that environmental and policy interventions advance both evidence and equity; and testing interventions that operate across two or more levels of impact. The physical activity field has reached a crucial crossroad. Although effective intervention strategies exist at individual, social, community, environmental, and policy levels, major gaps remain in long-term maintenance, inclusion, and integration of multilevel approaches. Closing these gaps will require sustained and collaborative efforts across disciplines and settings to support a physically active lifestyle across a highly diverse older adult population.

PMID:
43008771
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 11 Nov 2026.

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