For many of us, juggling work and personal obligations leaves little time for daily exercise. A new study, conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital and published in the journal Circulationreveals that group all your exercise sessions over one or two daysa practice nicknamed “weekend warrior,” could be as beneficial as physical activity spread more evenly throughout the week. This routine has been linked to a decreased risk of developing many diseases.
Can you improve your health by doing sports only on weekends?
The team of researchers, led by Dr Shaan Khurshid, looked at data from 89,573 participants fitted with bracelets recording their physical activity levels. They analyzed participants’ habits to determine whether they practiced regular physical activitywere inactiveor focused on the week-end to move. To carry out this classification, scientists based themselves on current recommendations, which recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity per week.
Their question was simple: among people who meet these recommendations, do those who exercise 20 to 30 minutes every day experience the same benefits as those who do longer workouts, but only on weekends? ? To find out, the team looked for associations between physical activity habitse of participants and the incidence of 678 pathologies.
A reduction in risk for 264 diseases
The results are clear: whether it is the “weekend warriors” or those who exercise more regularly, both groups showed a reduced risk of 264 diseasescompared to inactive people. These benefits particularly concern cardiometabolic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, but also other pathologies, such as mood disorders, chronic kidney failure and digestive diseases.
A major impact on cardiometabolic health
Associations were stronger for cardiometabolic diseases such as l’hypertension (risks reduced by 23% for weekend athletes and 28% for regular athletes, over a median period of 6 years) and the diabetes (lower risks of 43% and 46%). But all categories of diseases tested saw their risks reduced thanks to at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week.
“Given that the benefits appear to be similar for weekend and regular exercisers, this may be the total volume of activity rather than frequency “how it is practiced matters most,” suggests Professor Shaan Khurshid, MD and co-lead author of the study;
Do an activity that you enjoy, at the frequency that suits you best
These results are good news for those who struggle to fit exercise into their daily routine. The important thing is to find a strategy that fits your lifestylewhile achieving the recommended volume of activity. The model week-end warrior therefore appears to be a viable alternative for those who, due to lack of time, cannot train every day.
“It is necessary to carry out future interventions aimed at testing the effectiveness of concentrated activity to improve public health, and patients should be encouraged to practice physical activity according to guidelines using the model that suits them best,” concludes Prof. Khurshid.
Be careful with a sedentary lifestyle: moving every day remains essential
Although the study highlights the benefits of concentrated exercise over one or two days, it is important to do not confuse physical activity and lack of sedentary lifestyle. In fact, you can very well achieve the recommended 150 minutes of exercise per week while having a sedentary lifestyle, that is, spending the majority of time sitting or inactive. However, a sedentary lifestyle is an independent risk factor for many diseases, including cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.
So, even if you concentrate your physical efforts on the weekend, it is crucial to stay active throughout the week by adopting simple habits, such as walking regularly, avoiding sitting for too long and taking the stairs rather than the elevator. Moving daily, even modestly, is essential to maintaining good overall health.
Source: www.topsante.com
