ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy of exercise intervention on smoking cessation. MethodsCNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, Web of Science, PubMed and EMbase databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and randomized cross controlled trials (RCDs) on exercise intervention for smoking cessation from inception to September 2021. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed using Stata 12.0 software. ResultsA total of 47 studies (35 RCTs and 12 RCDs) involving 5 130 subjects were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that acute exercise could significantly reduce the quitters’ desire to smoke (P<0.05), alleviate most of the withdrawal symptoms, and the effect of acute exercise was maintained for at least 30 minutes. Periodic exercise significantly reduced 7-day point abstinence and sustained abstinence rates in ex-smokers (P<0.05), and the effect of periodic exercise was maintained for at least 12 weeks, however, depression and stress were not found to be effectively relieved, and mood was not found to be significantly improved (P>0.05). ConclusionExercise intervention to quit smoking has a positive effect, however, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.