Does physical exercise enhance physical appearance? An empirical study based on CFPS

In contemporary society, physical appearance significantly influences individuals' social interactions and career achievements. Although some studies suggest that physical exercise may positively impact physical appearance, most rely on subjective self-assessment data. In contrast, third-party evaluations are widely regarded as more objective and reliable. Thus, this study aims to explore the effects of physical exercise on physical appearance, as assessed by third-party evaluations, and to examine its heterogeneity. This study utilized third-party physical appearance evaluation data from 25,460 respondents in the 2018 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) and assessed the impact of physical exercise on physical appearance using multiple linear regression and instrumental variable analysis. Furthermore, the heterogeneity in the effects of physical exercise was investigated using subgroup regression and quantile regression analyses. The findings indicate that physical exercise substantially enhances physical appearance, with its effects varying significantly across different populations. Specifically, women, urban residents, and those with lower appearance scores experience more pronounced enhancement from physical exercise compared to men, rural residents, and those with higher scores. Additionally, the effect of age on the impact of physical exercise on appearance exhibits an inverted U-shaped relationship. Middle-aged adults (40–59 years) experience the most significant improvements, while benefits are lower for adolescents (10–20 years), young adults (20–39 years), and older adults (60–80 years). This study systematically reveals the positive impact of physical exercise on physical appearance, demonstrating that regular exercise can significantly enhance individual appearance scores. This finding contributes to a broader understanding of the multifaceted benefits of physical exercise.