Researchers discover the benefits of being a weekend warrior.
Published in JAMA Internal Medicine on Monday, Hannah Arem from Milken Institute of Public Health at George Washington University, discovered “weekend warriors” benefited from working out once or twice per week.
In fact, Arem and her team of researchers explained that weekend warriors were less likely to suffer from cardiovascular problems and were less likely to die from cancer.
Researchers argue that working out once or twice a week maybe enough to reduce deaths attributed to cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Also, scientists argue that the new report illustrates that men and women can still benefit from occasional exercise routines and physical activity.
CONYERS, GA – AUGUST 22: Competitors try to cross a muddy pool of water by swinging from rings at an amateur obstacle course race open to the public on August 22, 2015 in Conyers, GA. (BluIz60 / Shutterstock.com)
This is not the first time researchers studied the benefits of the “weekend warrior” exercise routine. In 2004, Harvard School of Public Health researchers found weekend warriors were less likely to die in comparison to men who did not engage in physical activity. The study also found that working out one to two times per week generating 1,000 kcal/week can decrease mortality rates.
Obesity is an epidemic across the United States. Recent research has shown a correlation between obese parents and developmental disorders in children. For example, children from two obese parents were 3 times more likely to have problem solving issues by the time they turn 3 years old.
In addition, one of the most popular surgeries for obesity, gastric bypass surgery, has been linked to digestive issues. In fact, researchers found men and women who had gastric bypass surgery complained of having issues eating foods such as red meat.
Overall, the World Health Organization recommends a minimum of over 2 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise every week.
Studies have shown that 24% of US adults did not engage in physical activity in 2013. But, the US is working on increasing physical activity with a new program. The initiative is called the National Physical Activity Plan. The mission of the program is to hopefully make all Americans physically active.