‘Weekend Warriors’ vs Regular Exercisers

According to a groundbreaking study published in the Obesity journal, individuals who engage in physical activity one-to-two days a week, also known as ‘weekend warriors,’ can achieve weight loss similar to those who exercise regularly. This study, titled ‘The Associations of Weekend Warrior and Regularly Active Physical Activity with Abdominal and General Adiposity in U.S. Adults,’ is the first of its kind to examine the association between physical activity patterns and objectively measured fat tissue mass.

The research extracted data from over 9,600 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2011 to 2018. The results showed that both the ‘weekend warrior’ and regularly active groups had lower abdominal adiposity, waist circumference, whole body fat mass, and body mass index compared to inactive participants. Furthermore, the study found that more intensity and longer duration of physical activity correlated with even lower abdominal fat.

Weight Loss in the ‘Weekend Warrior’ Pattern

The ‘weekend warrior’ pattern, where individuals condense their exercise into one to two days a week, has proven to be effective in burning fat and achieving weight loss. The study recommends promoting the ‘weekend warrior’ pattern for individuals who struggle to meet the recommended frequency of physical activity in current guidelines, especially those with sedentary lifestyles.

Interestingly, the study found that ‘weekend warriors’ who exercised hardest and longest had even lower abdominal fat. This implies that the intensity and duration of physical activity play significant roles in maximizing weight loss and health benefits.

Any Activity is Better Than No Activity

While the study has yielded promising results on the ‘weekend warrior’ pattern, it doesn’t undermine the importance of regular physical activity. In fact, experts emphasize that any activity is better than no activity, and people should engage in physical activity in any manner that suits their lifestyle. This is especially important for individuals who cannot meet the recommended frequency in current guidelines.

The findings of the study are critical in the current health context where obesity and sedentary lifestyles have become prevalent. Encouraging any form of physical activity, whether it’s regular or condensed into one or two days a week, can lead to significant health benefits and improvements in body composition.

However, the researchers also emphasized that the findings need confirmation in prospective longitudinal studies. This will help in further understanding the long-term effects and benefits of the ‘weekend warrior’ pattern of physical activity.