A recent study revealed that exercising for just one or two days a week is as effective for weight loss as working out regularly every day, according to the British "Daily Mail," citing the journal Obesity. Individuals who engaged in exercise sessions once or twice a week experienced similar reductions in belly fat, waist circumference, and body mass index compared to those who regularly frequented the gym.
This study is the first of its kind to explore the relationship between physical activity patterns and the actual amount of fat in a person's body. The lead researcher, Lihua Chang, an assistant professor at the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases in China, stated, "The weekend exercise pattern is worth promoting among individuals who cannot meet the recommended sessions in the current guidelines."
The World Health Organization's guidelines recommend that adults engage in 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity weekly. However, many find it challenging to balance this with work and family commitments. Chang noted that office workers, bus drivers, and others who must sit for long hours during the day often struggle to keep up with their exercise plans to offset the risks of a sedentary lifestyle, but have less free time to go to the gym. Thus, the study's findings could provide them with an alternative means to maintain their fitness.
Chang also mentioned that activities such as climbing, hiking, cycling, or running are physical activities that can be done during the weekend. Researchers used data from over 9,600 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The data examined ranged from 2011 to 2018 and included individuals aged 20 to 59 years.
Physical activity levels were collected from a global physical activity questionnaire and classified into groups of physically inactive individuals, weekend exercisers, and regularly active people. Among the group that exercised for only one or two days a week, the workouts were noted to be harder, longer, and more intense. Compared to 5,580 inactive participants, both weekend exercisers and regularly active groups had lower measurements of abdominal fat, waist circumference, total body fat mass, and body mass index.
