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Volume 13
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10.3390/healthcare13070776
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Systematic Review

The Effects of Concurrent Training Versus Aerobic or Resistance Training Alone on Body Composition in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by
Mousa Khalafi
1,*,
Shokoufeh Kheradmand
2,
Aref Habibi Maleki
3,
Michael E. Symonds
4,
Sara K. Rosenkranz
5 and
Alexios Batrakoulis
6,7,*
1
Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kashan, Kashan 87317-53153, Iran
2
Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar 47416-13534, Iran
3
Physiology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14496-14535, Iran
4
Centre for Perinatal Research, Academic Unit of Population and Lifespan Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
5
Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
6
Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Democritus University of Thrace, 69100 Komotini, Greece
7
Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, Greece
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Healthcare 2025, 13(7), 776; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13070776
Submission received: 2 February 2025 / Revised: 20 March 2025 / Accepted: 25 March 2025 / Published: 31 March 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychophysiological Responses to Physical Activity, Exercise and/or Nutrition Interventions in Individuals with Cardiometabolic Health Impairments)
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Abstract

Introduction and Aim: The beneficial effects of aerobic training (AT) on preventing excess fat mass, and of resistance training (RT) on skeletal muscle adaptation, are well established. However, the effects of concurrent training (CT) compared to AT or RT alone on body composition in middle-aged and older adults are less understood, and therefore, the focus of this meta-analysis. Methods: Three databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, were searched from inception to March 2024. Randomized trials were included if they compared CT versus either AT or RT, and included body composition measures such as fat mass, body fat percentage, waist circumference, visceral fat mass, lean body mass (LBM), muscle mass/volume, or muscle or muscle fiber cross-sectional area (CSA), in middle-aged (50 to <65 years) and older adults (≥65 years). Weighted mean differences (WMD) or standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random effects models. Results: A total of 53 studies involving 2873 participants were included. Overall, CT increased body weight and LBM significantly more, trending toward significantly larger increases in muscle mass and CSA, compared with AT alone. However, there were no significant differences between CT and RT alone, for body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, fat mass, waist circumference, or visceral fat mass. Conclusions: CT is as effective as AT for decreasing body fat measures and as effective as RT for increasing muscle mass in middle-aged and older adults, and it should be recommended accordingly.
Keywords: concurrent training; body composition; muscle mass; fat mass; older adults concurrent training; body composition; muscle mass; fat mass; older adults

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MDPI and ACS Style

Khalafi, M.; Kheradmand, S.; Habibi Maleki, A.; Symonds, M.E.; Rosenkranz, S.K.; Batrakoulis, A. The Effects of Concurrent Training Versus Aerobic or Resistance Training Alone on Body Composition in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Healthcare 2025, 13, 776. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13070776

AMA Style

Khalafi M, Kheradmand S, Habibi Maleki A, Symonds ME, Rosenkranz SK, Batrakoulis A. The Effects of Concurrent Training Versus Aerobic or Resistance Training Alone on Body Composition in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Healthcare. 2025; 13(7):776. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13070776

Chicago/Turabian Style

Khalafi, Mousa, Shokoufeh Kheradmand, Aref Habibi Maleki, Michael E. Symonds, Sara K. Rosenkranz, and Alexios Batrakoulis. 2025. "The Effects of Concurrent Training Versus Aerobic or Resistance Training Alone on Body Composition in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis" Healthcare 13, no. 7: 776. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13070776

APA Style

Khalafi, M., Kheradmand, S., Habibi Maleki, A., Symonds, M. E., Rosenkranz, S. K., & Batrakoulis, A. (2025). The Effects of Concurrent Training Versus Aerobic or Resistance Training Alone on Body Composition in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Healthcare, 13(7), 776. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13070776

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