What does this research mean for the field?

Aerobic exercise significantly reduces waist circumference, and Tai Chi lowers systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as total cholesterol in adults with cardiovascular risk factors, whereas evidence for benefits from HIIT, resistance, Yoga, and Qigong remains uncertain. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to evaluate how different types of exercise interventions affect cardiometabolic risk factors in adults with cardiovascular risk.

February 27, 2026Open Access

Effect of different types of exercise interventions on cardiometabolic risk factors: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Key Result

Aerobic exercise reduced waist circumference by 3.44 cm and Tai Chi lowered SBP by 8.80 mmHg, DBP by 7.58 mmHg, and total cholesterol by 8.46 mg/dL.

Key Points

This research aims to evaluate how different types of exercise interventions affect cardiometabolic risk factors in adults with cardiovascular risk.
Conducted an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Searched PubMed and Scopus databases for relevant studies
Focused on randomized controlled trials involving adults with cardiovascular risk factors
Included 16 meta-analysis publications for analysis
Aerobic exercise significantly reduced waist circumference in those with metabolic syndrome (MD −3.44 cm)
Tai Chi led to reductions in systolic blood pressure after ≥6 months (MD −8.80 mmHg)
Tai Chi also reduced diastolic blood pressure after both 3 and ≥6 months of training
Total cholesterol decreased following Tai Chi training in adults with hypertension (MD −8.46 mg/dL)
HIIT, resistance, yoga, and Qigong showed no strong evidence of benefits for cardiometabolic parameters.

Structured PICO

Do different types of exercise interventions improve cardiometabolic risk factors in adults with at least one cardiovascular risk factor?

Population

Adults with at least one cardiovascular risk factor but no history of cardiovascular disease (16 meta-analysis publications included)

Intervention

Different types of exercise interventions including aerobic exercise, Tai Chi, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), resistance training, Yoga, and Qigong

Comparator

Control group

Outcome

Cardiometabolic risk factors (including waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and total cholesterol)surrogate

Aerobic exercise and Tai Chi provide the most convincing evidence for improving cardiometabolic risk factors, specifically blood pressure and waist circumference, in adults with cardiovascular risk factors.

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 0%

Abstract

Physical activity (PA) is important for the prevention and management of cardiovascular (CV) disease (CVD). We aim to investigate the effect of different types of exercise on cardiometabolic risk factors in these subjects with CV risk factors but no history of CVD is lacking. PubMed and Scopus databases were searched up to November 2025 for systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The population studied referred to adults with at least one CV risk factor. 16 meta-analysis publications were included. Strong evidence for a benefit was found for i) aerobic exercise and waist circumference (WC) reduction compared to control group in males and females with metabolic syndrome Mean Difference (MD) −3.44 (95% CI −4.81, −2.07) cm, ii) Tai Chi and SBP reduction after ≥6 months [MD −8.80 (95% CI −11.28, −6.32) mmHg, DBP reduction after 3 months MD −7.58 (95% CI −8.56, −6.60) mmHg and after ≥6 months of Tai Chi training MD −4.62 (95% CI −6.09, −3.16) mmHg, and total cholesterol reduction following Tai Chi training in adult males and females with essential hypertension MD −8.46 (−11.7, −5.4) mg/dL compared to control group. HIIT, resistance, Yoga and Qigong training did not show any convincing evidence for a benefit in cardiometabolic parameters. The most convincing evidence relates to a benefit from Aerobic or Tai Chi training mainly in SBP and DBP reduction and secondarily to WC and total cholesterol reduction. The role of HIIT, Resistance, Yoga and Qigong training in cardiometabolic health is uncertain. • Atherosclerotic related cardiovascular disease is ranking first across the conditions listed in the global burden of diseases. • PA is important for the prevention and management of a variety of chronic diseases including cardiovascular diseases. • Different types of exercise may exert certain advantages in metabolic parameters in individuals with at least one cardiovascular risk factor. • The most convincing evidence relates to a benefit in SBP and DBP reduction by Aerobic or Tai Chi training.