A recent study suggests that fitting in a week’s worth of exercise over the weekend can yield health benefits comparable to those gained from daily workouts. While conventional wisdom holds that exercising every day is optimal for health, findings published in the journal Circulation indicate that so-called “weekend warriors” may achieve similar health outcomes.
Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital analyzed health records of 89,573 participants from the UK Biobank. Each volunteer wore a monitor for one week to track their physical activity. The participants were divided into three categories: regular exercisers, who engaged in 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise throughout the week; weekend warriors, who accumulated the same amount of exercise in one or two days; and inactive individuals, who exercised less than 150 minutes per week.
The results revealed that weekend warriors exhibited a significantly lower risk of developing 264 medical conditions compared to their inactive counterparts. Notably, regular exercisers showed similar reductions in health risks.
Dr. Shaan Khurshid, a cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and one of the study’s lead researchers, expressed optimism about the findings. “The results are empowering,” he stated. “They demonstrate that the volume of physical activity is more important than the frequency. The key takeaway is to engage in physical activity in a manner that suits your lifestyle.”
This study adds to the growing body of research on exercise’s health impacts. Earlier this year, a study presented at the European Congress of Obesity found that financial incentives, up to £400, combined with text reminders, effectively helped men with obesity achieve weight loss.
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