The massive benefits of a weekend exercise spree
manchestereveningnews.co.ukExercising only at the weekends is enough to lower the risk of developing more than 200 health conditions, from heart disease and mood disorders to kidney issues and obesity, scientists say.
A study of nearly 90,000 adults in the UK found people who cram all their workouts at the weekend – known as weekend warriors – enjoy the same benefits as those who spread their exercise throughout the week.
The team said its findings, published in the journal Circulation, show the total amount of exercise – or getting the recommended 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week – matters more than following an even pattern of physical activity. READ MORE: Dancing boy, 2, killed by falling marble fireplace and TV that wasn't fixed to wall, inquest told Dr Shaan Khurshid, a faculty member in the Demoulas Centre for Cardiac Arrhythmias at Massachusetts General Hospital in the US, said: “Physical activity is known to affect risk of many diseases. “Here, we show the potential benefits of weekend warrior activity for risk not only of cardiovascular diseases, as we’ve shown in the past, but also future diseases spanning the whole spectrum, ranging from conditions like chronic kidney disease to mood disorders and beyond.” The NHS guidelines recommend 150 minutes of moderate exercise, such as brisk walking or riding a bike, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, such as running or hill cycling, per week.
It says adults should aim to spread exercise evenly over four to five days a week, or every day. Being inactive is associated with one in six deaths in the UK and is estimated to cost the UK £7.4 billion annually, according to Government figures.
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