No Time to Exercise? Weekend Workouts Can Be Enough
We've all heard it time and time again — regular exercise is important. But one study has good news for anyone who's too busy to make time for exercise during the week — working out on the weekend might be just as good!
An international team of researchers followed more than 350,000 people in the US over 10 years to see how those exercising regularly during the week compared to those who worked out only on the weekend.
The researchers found no big difference between the two groups. Both were found to have lower risk of early death from any cause, as well as lower risk of dying of heart disease and cancer, compared to those who didn't exercise at all.
The results show that as long as you get the recommended amount of exercise per week, it's not really important when you do it.
The World Health Organization recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise for 18- to 64-year-olds each week. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that "moderate" exercise is any type that can be done while having a conversation, while talking is too hard during vigorous exercise.
And while the study gives the thumbs-up to those preferring to exercise only on the weekend, health experts say that regular exercise may offer some other advantages that the study didn't look into. For example, exercising daily could be better for your sleep and mental health, and it could also keep you from spending too much time sitting during the day.
