October 01, 2024

New Research Finds Exercise on Weekends as Effective as Regular Workouts

Good news for those with busy schedules: "weekend warrior" workouts may be just as effective as daily exercise for overall health, according to a recent study.

The research, published Thursday in Circulation, found that people who cram all their recommended weekly exercise into one or two days enjoy health benefits similar to those who exercise more regularly throughout the week. Both groups showed lower risks of developing over 200 diseases, including heart, digestive, and mental health conditions.

"It appears the total volume of activity, rather than the distribution, matters most," said Dr. Shaan Khurshid, a cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Health guidelines suggest at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity each week, but whether that exercise should be spaced out or condensed into a few days has been an ongoing debate. This study, which analyzed data from nearly 90,000 participants in the UK Biobank, offers insight.

Participants were categorized as weekend warriors, steady exercisers, or inactive based on their physical activity levels. Both the weekend warriors and steady exercisers had substantially lower risks of 264 diseases compared to inactive individuals. For instance, weekend warrior workouts were linked to a 23% lower risk of high blood pressure and a 43% lower risk of diabetes, similar to daily exercisers.

The study suggests that "any pattern of exercise that fits one's schedule can be beneficial for long-term health," Khurshid added.