Physical activity is crucial for good health, but many people find it difficult to do workouts during the work week. Some are weekend warriors, exercising intensely when they find the time. Can leisure time pursuits such as golf or tennis on the weekend contribute to fitness and good health?
Studying Weekend Warriors:
A British study of more than 60,000 adults found that weekend warriors got substantial benefit from their activity. That was true even for those who exercise only a few times a week.
These people got at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of high-intensity exercise every week. Compared to sedentary individuals, their risk of death from any cause was at least 30 percent lower, nearly comparable to that of people who exercised regularly throughout the week. These folks lowered their chance of dying from cancer as well as from heart disease.
JAMA Internal Medicine, online Jan. 9, 2017
People who need some help with motivation to make exercise a regular part of their week or weekend might enjoy Amy Beausang’s essay. You can read it here.
