###### Abstract  
The aim of the present study was to understand the effect of a multicomponent physical exercise program on the functional physical fitness of older people with overweight or obesity in Chile, and whether these effects were similar in women and men. For this purpose, a quasi-experimental study was designed with a control group to evaluate the functional physical fitness through the Senior Fitness Test battery for older people [SFT; aerobic endurance (AE), lower body strength (LBS), upper body strength (UBS), upper body flexibility (UBF), lower body flexibility (LBF), dynamic balance (DB), and hand pressure strength right (HPSR) and left (HPSL)]. Seventy older people with overweight or obesity aged between 60 and 86 years participated (M = 73.15; SD = 5.94), and were randomized into a control group (CG, n = 35) and an experimental group (EG, n = 35). The results after the intervention between the CG and EG indicated that there were statistically significant differences in the AE (\(p\) = 0.036), in the LBS (\(p\) = 0.031), and in the LBF (\(p\) = 0.017), which did not exist before the intervention (\(p\) > 0.050), except in the HPSR (0.029). Regarding the results of the EG (pre vs. post-intervention), statistically significant differences were found in all of the variables studied: AE (\(p\) < 0.001), LBS (\(p\) < 0.001), UBS (\(p\) < 0.001), LBF (\(p\) = 0.017), UBF (\(p\) < 0.001), DB (\(p\) = 0.002), HPSR (\(p\) < 0.001), and HPSL (\(p\) = 0.012) in both men and women. These improvements did not exist in any of the CG variables (\(p\) > 0.05). Based on the results obtained, we can say that a multicomponent physical exercise program applied for 6 months in older people with overweight or obesity produces improvements in functional physical fitness regardless of sex, except in lower body flexibility and left-hand dynamometry. functional fitness; physical activity; force; balance; strength; endurance; aged 202424 July 202424 July 202424 July 202424 July 202424 July 202425 July 2024 to maintain greater physical independence (i.e., climbing stairs, bathing, standing up of a chair, walking) [8], adopt an active lifestyle, and consequently, improve their quality of life [9; 10]. Several recommendations that suggest the prescription of physical activity to improve functional physical fitness through physical exercise have focused on aerobic capacity, strength training, balance, and mobility, improving physical function while, at the same time, preventing falls [11], cognitive decline [12], and morbidity and mortality in older adults [7; 13; 14]. In this sense, in the scientific evidence, studies appear that have implemented different types of physical exercise, ranging from resistance training [15; 16; 17; 18], combining training (i.e., aerobic endurance exercises, balance, and/or stretching) [19; 20; 21], aerobic exercise training [22], training with progressive interval exercises [23], high intensity interval training (HIIT) [24; 25], or aerobic dance [26]. Previous studies related to improvements through multicomponent or combined exercise analyzed the improvements in BMI and anthropometric values [27; 28] or in functional or physical capacity [29], among others. Furthermore, scientific evidence that used the Senior Fitness Test and multicomponent physical exercise to evaluate functional physical fitness in older adults is, to date, scarce [7], and the training methods found are heterogeneous [7], so there is a lack of more specific protocols that combine aerobic and resistance components, and greater homogeneity in the data collection instruments [30], to impact the health of this population safely [7]. Therefore, this study is considered relevant. In this regard, there is a lack of sufficient evidence on the effectiveness of multicomponent physical exercise programs on the functional physical fitness in older adults [7; 31]. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines [32] for adults over 65 years of age stipulate two sessions per week of multicomponent physical activity [33].