Your body was made to move. Exercise provides a variety of health benefits, including the release of feel-good endorphins, hormones, and improved balance and posture. The American Heart Association recommends doing at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise each week, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise each week, or a combination of both. Any exercise is better than no exercise at all. The question is, does it matter when you can fit those hours into your schedule? Does exercising only on weekends make a difference? Researchers have put this question in the spotlight and have come up with some interesting results.
the study
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The Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital study was published in the journal Circulation. Researchers evaluated information on 89,573 individuals in the UK Biobank study. These people wore accelerometers on their wrists that recorded the total time they spent at various exercise intensities and their total physical activity over a week.
The researchers used the AMA and CDC guideline threshold of 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week and divided participants into three groups.
People who exercise regularly Weekend warriors Inactive
They looked at the association between physical activity patterns and 678 conditions, including different types of diseases such as digestive disorders, neurological disorders, and mental health.
result
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The results showed that both regular exercise patterns and weekend warriors were associated with a significantly lower risk of 264 diseases compared to the inactive group. The strongest association was with cardiometabolic status. For example, people who exercised frequently on the weekends had a 23% lower risk of high blood pressure or high blood pressure over a median of six years, and those who exercised regularly had a 28% lower risk. Associations were evident across all disease categories.
do what feels best for you
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Whether you’re working out more regularly throughout the week or just one or two days, as long as you’re getting the recommended 150 minutes, you’re taking positive steps toward your health. This means that you are taking . That being said, vigorous exercise of an hour or more is not suitable for everyone, so do what feels best for you and contact your doctor or health care provider if you have any questions or concerns about your exercise plan. , or consult a physical therapist.
Most people who only exercise on the weekends say they don’t have time during the week. The good news is that if you are one of those people, you can still get similar results and lower your risk of disease. So, you should continue to turn on and be proud of the weekend warrior you are.
