Physical activity and accelerated aging measured by S-AnthropoAge in Mexican older adults
In a secondary analysis of the Mexican Health and Aging Study, older adults who exercised frequently had on average 0.449 fewer years of biological age by S-AnthropoAge than those who did not; this is an association, not proof of cause. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Biological age was estimated with S-AnthropoAge, a simplified AnthropoAge metric based on body mass index and waist-to-height ratio. [1]
Frequent exercisers had on average 0.449 fewer years of biological age than non-exercisers (95% CI -0.661 to -0.231). [1]
The authors say further research is needed to understand a possible mediating effect of this association. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Secondary analysis of a cohort study (abstract).
- Population / context
- Mexican older adults in the Mexican Health and Aging Study.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- July 17, 2026
S-AnthropoAge and physical activity in Mexican older adults
The study asked whether physical activity is associated with biological age in a Mexican population of older adults. Biological age was estimated with S-AnthropoAge, a simplified version of AnthropoAge based on body measurements including body mass index and waist-to-height ratio. The authors note that AnthropoAge and S-AnthropoAge use sex-dependent body composition measures to predict 10-year all-cause mortality.
Supporting source [1]
Frequent exercisers averaged 0.449 fewer biological-age years
This was a secondary analysis of the Mexican Health and Aging Study using adjusted linear regression models. Those who exercised frequently had, on average, 0.449 fewer years of biological age (about five months) than those who did not (95% confidence interval -0.661 to -0.231). People with two or more illnesses had on average 0.542 years more accelerated aging. Being a caregiver for a child or children under 15 was also significantly associated with accelerated aging after adjustment.
Supporting source [1]
Abstract-only scope and open mediation question
The authors conclude that the study provides further evidence that regular physical activity is associated with the acceleration of biological age as captured by S-AnthropoAge. They state that additional research is needed to fully understand a possible mediating effect of this association. The abstract does not report sample size, follow-up length or how physical activity was measured.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. This is a secondary analysis of an existing study, and the abstract reports no sample size, follow-up length or physical activity measurement details. The findings are associations from adjusted models, not evidence of causation.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Fernandez-Villa JM, González-Lara M, Bello-Chavolla OY, Carrillo-Vega MF, García-Peña C, Sánchez-García S. · europepmc.org · July 17, 2026