‘Weekend warrior’ Health transformation in two days!

People may decide to concentrate their moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on one to two days of the week, generally during the weekend, if they find it difficult to exercise during a hectic work week.

Survey based on health organizations!

According to the World Health Organization's recommendations for physical activity, individuals should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of strenuous aerobic activity per week. Although doctors advise spreading out regular exercise throughout the week, not everyone can always make that work.

An international team of researchers studied the health and exercise habits of over 350,000 American adults who participated in the National Health Interview Survey between 1997 and 2013 to learn about various forms of physical activity.

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Benefits of weekend exercise!

Those who completed 75 minutes of vigorous or 150 minutes of moderate activity over one or two days each week had an 8% lower risk of dying from all causes than physically inactive participants. They shared the same risk of dying from all causes, heart disease, and cancer, as those who completed the same amount of exercise over three to five days.

Heart health and activity patterns!

There are three categories of participants which include:

• 33.7% were inactive
• 42.2% were active weekend warriors
• 24.0% were active-regulars

Heart health based on participants:

• Active groups had lower risks of heart attack - 27% and 35% lower risks for active weekend warriors and active-regulars compared to the inactive group.
• Heart failure – 38% and 36% lower risks
• Atrial fibrillation – 22% and 19% lower risks
• Stroke 21% and 17% lower risks.

Research-based on the future!

The Corrigan Minehan Heart Center at Massachusetts General Hospital is co-directed by senior author Patrick T. Ellinor, MD, Ph.D., acting chief of cardiology. The team is also considering determining if weekend warrior-type exercise may be associated with lower chances of a wider range of illnesses.

Also Read: Tips to become a better jogger and gain good Health and Fitness