Associations of "Weekend Warrior" Physical Activity With Incident Disease and Cardiometabolic Health.

BACKGROUND: Achievement of guideline-recommended levels of physical activity (≥150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week) is associated with lower risk of adverse cardiovascular events and represents an important public health priority. Although physical activity commonly follows a "weekend warrior" pattern, in which most moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is concentrated in 1 or 2 days rather than spread more evenly across the week (regular), the effects of physical activity pattern across a range of incident diseases, including cardiometabolic conditions, are unknown. METHODS: We tested associations between physical activity pattern and incidence of 678 conditions in 89 573 participants (62±8 years of age; 56% women) of the UK Biobank prospective cohort study who wore an accelerometer for 1 week between June 2013 and December 2015. Models were adjusted for multiple baseline clinical factors, and P value thresholds were corrected for multiplicity. RESULTS: When compared to inactive (<150 minutes moderate-to-vigorous physical activity/week), both weekend warrior (267 total associations; 264 [99%] with lower disease risk; hazard ratio [HR] range, 0.35-0.89) and regular activity (209 associations; 205 [98%] with lower disease risk; HR range, 0.41-0.88) were broadly associated with lower risk of incident disease. The strongest associations were observed for cardiometabolic conditions such as incident hypertension (weekend warrior: HR, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.73-0.80]; P=1.2×10-27; regular: HR, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.68-0.77]; P=4.5×10-28), diabetes (weekend warrior: HR, 0.57 [95% CI, 0.51-0.62]; P=3.9×10-32; regular: HR, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.48-0.60]; P=8.7×10-26), obesity (weekend warrior: HR, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.50-0.60]; P=2.4×10-43, regular: HR, 0.44 [95% CI, 0.40-0.50]; P=9.6×10-47), and sleep apnea (weekend warrior: HR, 0.57 [95% CI, 0.48-0.69]; P=1.6×10-9; regular: HR, 0.49 [95% CI, 0.39-0.62]; P=7.4×10-10). When weekend warrior and regular activity were compared directly, there were no conditions for which effects differed significantly. Observations were similar when activity was thresholded at the sample median (≥230.4 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity/week). CONCLUSIONS: Achievement of measured physical activity volumes consistent with guideline recommendations is associated with lower risk for >200 diseases, with prominent effects on cardiometabolic conditions. Associations appear similar whether physical activity follows a weekend warrior pattern or is spread more evenly throughout the week.

Accelerometer-derived moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and incident nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND: The liver effects of concentrated vs. more evenly distributed moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) patterns remain unclear. We aimed to examine the association of accelerometer-measured MVPA and different MVPA patterns with liver outcomes. METHODS: Eighty-eight thousand six hundred fifty-six participants without prior liver diseases from UK Biobank were included. MVPA was measured by a wrist-worn accelerometer. Based on the guideline-based threshold (≥ 150 min/week), MVPA patterns were defined as inactive (< 150 min/week), active weekend warrior (WW; ≥ 150 min/week with ≥ 50% of total MVPA achieved within 1-2 days), and regularly active (≥ 150 min/week but not active WW) patterns. The primary outcome was incident nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 6.8 years, 562 participants developed NAFLD. Overall, there was a nonlinear inverse association of total MVPA with incident NAFLD (P for nonlinearity = 0.009): the risk of NAFLD rapidly decreased with the increment of MVPA (per 100 min/week increment: HR = 0.68; 95%CI, 0.57-0.81) when MVPA < 208 min/week, while moderately declined (HR = 0.91; 95%CI, 0.84-0.99) when MVPA ≥ 208 min/week. For MVPA patterns, compared with inactive group, both active WW (HR = 0.55, 95%CI, 0.44-0.67) and active regular (HR = 0.49, 95%CI, 0.38-0.63) group were associated with a similar lower risk of NAFLD. Similar results were observed for each secondary outcome, including incident severe liver diseases, incident liver cirrhosis, and liver magnetic resonance imaging-based liver steatosis and fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of whether MVPA was concentrated within 1 to 2 days or spread over most days of the week, more MVPA was associated with a lower risk of incident liver outcomes, including NAFLD, liver cirrhosis, liver steatosis, and fibrosis, to MVPA more evenly distributed.

The weekend warrior effect: Consistent intermittent exercise induces persistent cognitive benefits.

Exercise provides a range of cognitive benefits, including improved memory performance. Previously, we demonstrated that 14 days of continuous voluntary wheel-running exercise enables learning in a hippocampus-dependent Object Location Memory (OLM) task under insufficient, subthreshold training conditions in adult mice. Whether similar exercise benefits can be obtained from consistent intermittent exercise as continuous exercise is unknown. Here, we examine whether intermittent exercise (the weekend warrior effect: 2 days of exercise a week for 7 weeks) displays similar or distinct cognitive benefits as previously examined with 14 days of continuous exercise. We find that both continuous and intermittent exercise parameters similarly enable hippocampus-dependent OLM compared to the 2-day exercise control group. Mice receiving intermittent exercise maintained cognitive benefits following a 7-day sedentary delay, whereas mice that underwent 14 continuous days of exercise showed diminished cognitive benefits as previously reported. Further, compared to continuous exercise, intermittent exercise mice exhibited persistently elevated levels of the genes Acvr1c and Bdnf which we know to be critically involved in hippocampus-dependent long-term memory in the dorsal hippocampus. Together findings suggest that consistent intermittent exercise persistently enables hippocampal-dependent long-term memory. Understanding the optimal parameters for persistent cognitive function and the mechanisms mediating persistent effects will aid in therapeutic pursuits investigating the mitigation of cognitive ailments.

Association of accelerometer-derived "weekend warrior" moderate to vigorous physical activity, chronic kidney disease and acute kidney injury.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between an accelerometer-derived "weekend warrior" pattern, characterized by achieving the most moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) over 1-2 days, as opposed to more evenly distributed patterns, with risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury (AKI). METHODS: 77,977 participants without prior kidney diseases and with usable accelerometer data (collected between 2013 and 2015) were included from the UK Biobank. Three physical activity patterns were compared: active weekend warrior pattern (achieving ≥150 min MVPA per week and accumulating ≥50 % of total MVPA in 1-2 days), active regular pattern (achieving ≥150 min MVPA but not meeting active weekend warrior criteria per week), and inactive pattern (<150 min MVPA per week). The study outcomes included incident CKD and AKI, ascertained through self-report data and data linkage with primary care, hospital admissions, and death registry records. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 6.8 years, 1324 participants developed CKD and 1515 developed AKI. In multivariable-adjusted models, when compared with inactive participants, individuals with active weekend warrior pattern (CKD: hazard ratio [HR], 0.79, 95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.69-0.89; AKI: HR, 0.70, 95 %CI, 0.62-0.79) and those with active regular pattern (CKD: HR, 0.81, 95 %CI, 0.69-0.95; AKI: HR, 0.79, 95 %CI, 0.68-0.91) exhibited a similar and significantly lower risk of incident CKD and AKI. Similar findings were observed at the median threshold of ≥230.4 min of MVPA per week. CONCLUSION: Concentrated MVPA within 1 to 2 days is as effective as distributed ones in decreasing the risk of renal outcomes.

Relationship of "weekend warrior" and regular physical activity patterns with metabolic syndrome and its associated diseases among Chinese rural adults.

Little is known about the "weekend warrior" pattern of physical activity (PA) where people perform all their PA in 1 or 2 sessions per week. We investigated the relationship of weekend warrior and other PA patterns with metabolic syndrome (MS) and its associated diseases. Data on sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics were collected from the Nantong Metabolic Syndrome Study that included 13,505 women and 6,997 men between 2007 and 2008. Compared with inactive participants, weekend warriors were at lower risk of MS, diabetes, and hypertension; respective odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for men and women were 0.58 (0.43-0.79) and 0.67 (0.52-0.86), 0.52 (0.34-0.79) and 0.52 (0.33-0.83), and 0.79 (0.63-0.99) and 0.71 (0.57-0.89). Similar results were observed with regular activity, at a frequency of >3 sessions per week. Both weekend warrior and regular PA patterns showed a 10-60% decrease in abnormal triglycerides, glucose, and blood pressure in both sexes; abnormal waist circumference in men only; and abnormal high-density lipoprotein in women only. Our observed cross-sectional relationships reflect that >150 min/week of moderate PA or 75 min/week vigorous-intensity PA is needed to prevent MS and its component diseases, even if in a short-bout, intermittent PA pattern. ABBREVIATIONS: MS: Metabolic syndrome; WC: Waist circumference; TG: Triglycerides; HDL-c: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol; BP: Blood pressure; SBP: Systolic blood pressure, DBP: Diastolic blood pressure; PA: Physical activity; JIS: Joint Interim Statement; CVD: Cardiovascular disease; ATP III: US Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program, the Adult Treatment Panel; IDF: International Diabetes Federation; IPAQ: International Physical Activity Questionnaire; BMI: Body mass index; CDC: the Nantong Centers for Disease Control; OR: Odds ratio; CI: Confidence interval; SD: Standard deviation; IQR: Interquartile range.

Association between physical activity and depression in adult prescription opioid users: A cross-sectional analysis based on NHANES 2007-2018.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to examine the association between physical activity (PA) and depression among adult prescription opioid users. METHOD: Data of adults who recently took prescription opioids were collected from NHANES 2007-2018. Participants were divided into two groups according to whether PA in each domain was ≥600 MET-min/week. According to weekly activity frequency, recreational physical activity (RPA) was divided into inactivity, insufficient activity, weekend warrior (WW), and regular activity. PHQ-9 scores ≥10 were identified as depression. RESULTS: RPA of ≥600 MET-min/week was associated with a 40% (OR: 0.60, 95%CI: 0.38-0.96, P = 0.032) reduction in the risk of depression. Restricted Cubic Spline plots found a nonlinear dose-response relationship between RPA and depression (P = 0.045), and the turning point of depression risk was around 600 MET-min/week. There was no significant difference in the risk of depression between the WW and inactivity groups (OR: 0.65, 95%CI: 0.25-1.72, P = 0.382). The regular activity group had an 45% (OR: 0.55, 95%CI: 0.31-0.99, P = 0.046)lower risk for depression than the inactivity group. CONCLUSION: Only regular RPA is associated with a reduced risk of depression, and RPA showed a nonlinear dose-response relationship. The antidepressant effect of the WW is not significant.

Association between "weekend warrior" physical activity and the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases.

While guidelines recommend 150 â€‹min of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) weekly to enhance health, it remains unclear whether concentrating these activities into 1-2 days of the week, "weekend warrior" (WW) pattern, has the same benefit for neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). This study aimed to evaluate the associations of WW pattern and the risk of NDDs. This prospective study was conducted using accelerometer-based physical activity data for a full week from June 2013 to December 2015 in the UK Biobank. These individuals were categorized into distinct physical activity patterns, including the WW pattern (i.e., over 50% or 75% of recommended MVPA achieved over 1-2 days), regular pattern, and inactive pattern. Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the association between physical activity patterns and outcomes. Compared to inactive group, WW pattern and regular pattern was similarly linked to a reduced risk of all-cause dementia (WW: Hazard Ratio [HR]: 0.68, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.56-0.84; regular: HR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.67-1.1) and all-cause Parkinsonism (WW: HR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.35-0.63; regular: HR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.5-0.95). When the exercise threshold was increased to 75% of MVPA, both patterns still were associated with decreased risk of incident all-cause dementia (WW: HR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.41-0.91; regular: HR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.63-0.92) and all-cause Parkinsonism (WW: HR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.10-0.47; regular: HR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.46-0.75). Concentrating recommended physical activities into 1-2 days per week is associated with a lower incidence of NDDs.

The associations of weekend warrior and other physical activity patterns with the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in people with diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease: from NHANES 2007-2020.

AIM: To investigate the associations of the weekend warrior and other physical activity (PA) patterns with all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risk in people with diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: This study pooled the data from NHANES 2007-2020. Participants with DM and CKD were included. PA was assessed using a self-reported questionnaire. According to the characteristics of recreational activities, individuals were categorized as inactive (no activities), insufficiently active (total PA duration < 150 min/week), weekend warrior (total PA duration ≥ 150 min/week for 1-2 sessions), and regularly active (total PA duration ≥ 150 min/week for ≥ 3 sessions). Weighted Cox regression models with adjusting sociodemographic, behavioral, and metabolic factors were performed to investigate the relationship of PA patterns with all-cause and CVD mortality risk. Stratification and interaction analyses were further performed. RESULTS: Among 1702 participants (46.53% female; 64 ± 0.46 years old), 536 died (163 cardiovascular) during the follow-up of 68 (39-104) months. The hazard ratio (HR) of all-cause death was 0.618 (95% CI 0.406-0.942) for insufficiently active PA pattern, 0.338 (95% CI 0.116-0.988) for weekend warrior PA pattern, and 0.536 (95% CI 0.395-0.726) for regularly active PA pattern compared with inactive PA pattern. HR of CVD death was 0.545 (95% CI 0.250-1.189) for the PA pattern of insufficiently active, 0.165 (95% CI 0.020-1.343) for weekend warrior, and 0.393 (95% CI 0.218-0.710) for regularly active compared with the inactive PA pattern. The associations present no difference in subgroups. Moreover, there was no discernible difference between weekend warrior and regularly active PA patterns for all-cause and CVD deaths. The risk of death declined relatively quickly When exercise was initiated and to a total of 450 min or 4 times per week. CONCLUSION: In a population of DM and CKD, the weekend warrior pattern was similar to regular activity to lower the risk of all-cause mortality, compared with inactivity. The weekend warrior pattern was recommended for people who only have time to exercise on the weekend. However, longer and larger sample cohort studies are needed to validate our findings.

Association between weekend warrior physical activity pattern and all-cause mortality among adults living with type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study from NHANES 2007 to 2018.

BACKGROUND: It is uncertain whether the weekend warrior pattern is associated with all-cause mortality among adults living with type 2 diabetes. This study explored how the 'weekend warrior' physical activity (PA) pattern was associated with all-cause mortality among adults living with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: This prospective cohort study investigated US adults living with type 2 diabetes in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Mortality data was linked to the National Death Index. Based on self-reported leisure-time and occupational moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), participants were categorized into 3 groups: physically inactive (< 150 min/week of MVPA), weekend warrior (≥ 150 min/week of MVPA in 1 or 2 sessions), and physically active (≥ 150 min/week of MVPA in 3 or more sessions). RESULTS: A total of 6067 participants living with type 2 diabetes [mean (SD) age, 61.4 (13.5) years; 48.0% females] were followed for a median of 6.1 years, during which 1206 deaths were recorded. Of leisure-time and occupational activity, compared with inactive individuals, hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality were 0.49 (95% CI 0.26-0.91) and 0.57 (95% CI 0.38-0.85) for weekend warrior individuals, and 0.55 (95% CI 0.45-0.67) and 0.64 (95% CI 0.53-0.76) for regularly active individuals, respectively. However, when compared leisure-time and occupational weekend warrior with regularly active participants, the HRs were 0.82 (95% CI 0.42-1.61) and 1.00 (95% CI 0.64-1.56) for all-cause mortality, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Weekend warrior PA pattern may have similar effects on lowering all-cause mortality as regularly active pattern among adults living with type 2 diabetes, regardless of leisure-time or occupational activity. Therefore, weekend warrior PA pattern may be sufficient to reduce all-cause mortality for adults living with type 2 diabetes.

Physical activity patterns and cognitive function in elderly women: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2011-2014.

Background: Amid the backdrop of global aging, the increasing prevalence of cognitive decline among the elderly, particularly within the female demographic, represents a considerable public health concern. Physical activity (PA) is recognized as an effective non-pharmacological intervention for mitigating cognitive decline in older adults. However, the relationship between different PA patterns and cognitive function (CF) in elderly women remains unclear. Methods: This study utilized data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014 to investigate the relationships between PA, PA patterns [inactive, Weekend Warrior (WW), and Regular Exercise (RE)], and PA intensity with CF in elderly women. Multivariate regression analysis served as the primary analytical method. Results: There was a significant positive correlation between PA and CF among elderly women (ß-PA: 0.003, 95% CI: 0.000-0.006, P = 0.03143). Additionally, WW and RE activity patterns were associated with markedly better cognitive performance compared to the inactive group (ß-WW: 0.451, 95% CI: 0.216-0.685, P = 0.00017; ß-RE: 0.153, 95% CI: 0.085-0.221, P = 0.00001). Furthermore, our results indicate a progressive increase in CF with increasing PA intensity (ß-MPA- dominated: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.02-0.09, P = 0.0208; ß-VPA-dominated: 0.21, 95% CI: 0.09-0.34, P = 0.0011; ß-Total VPA: 0.31, 95% CI: -0.01-0.63, P = 0.0566). Conclusion: Our study confirms a positive association between PA and CF in elderly women, with even intermittent but intensive PA models like WW being correlated with improved CF. These findings underscore the significant role that varying intensities and patterns of PA play in promoting cognitive health among older age groups, highlighting the need for adaptable PA strategies in public health initiatives targeting this population.

The association between 'weekend warrior', regular exercise, and cognitive function in elderly individuals with and without depressive symptoms: A cross-sectional analysis from NHANES 2011-2014.

BACKGROUND: While previous studies have suggested that both 'Weekend Warrior' (WW) and Regular Exercise (RE) patterns confer health benefits, the relationship between different types of physical activity (PA) and cognitive function (CF) in elderly individuals with and without depressive symptoms remains unclear. METHODS: Our study leveraged the NHANES 2011-2014 dataset, focusing on older adults. We explore the relationship between PA and CF, stratifying by depressive status. Our statistical approach included multivariable regression analysis to identify relationships between PA levels and cognitive outcomes, along with advanced techniques such as smoothed curve fitting and threshold effect analysis to examine potential nonlinear associations and identify optimal PA pattern for cognitive health. RESULTS: Analysis revealed a positive correlation between PA time and CF across all participants (ß-depressive symptoms = 0.03, 95 % CI: 0.01-0.05; ß-non-depressive symptoms = 0.01, 95%CI: 0.00-0.02). When comparing against the inactive, non-depressed participants partaking in WW showed improved cognitive scores (ß-WW = 0.22, 95 % CI: 0.05-0.39), similar to those engaging in RE (ß-RE = 0.15, 95 % CI: 0.09-0.21). However, among the depressed participants, significant cognitive improvements were observed in the RE (ß-RE = 0.15, 95 % CI: 0.04-0.25), with the WW showing less definitive results (ß-WW = 0.22, 95 % CI: -0.02-0.47). LIMITATION: The cross-sectional nature limits causal inferences. CONCLUSION: Our findings affirm the potential role of PA in enhancing CF among older subjects without depressive symptoms. However, only RE was associated with improved CF in those with depressive symptoms. These results are critical for crafting personalized PA guidelines to enhance cognitive health in the aging population.

The Associations of Weekend Warrior Activity Patterns With the Visceral Adiposity Index in US Adults: Repeated Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: According to previous reports, obesity especially visceral fat has become an important public health problem, causing an estimation of 20.5 disability-adjusted life years per 1000 inhabitants. Those who exercised for 1 or 2 days per week and reached the recommended 150 minutes of moderate physical activity (PA) per week have been defined as "weekend warriors" (WWs). Although the benefits of PA in suppressing obesity have been widely studied, the association of WWs with the Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) and the difference between WW activity and regular PA are yet to be explored. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the association between WW activity and other PA patterns with VAI in US adults. METHODS: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2016 data set was used, and the analytic sample was limited to adults 20 years and older who had complete information about VAI, PA patterns, and other covariates, including demographic characteristics, behavioral factors, and disease conditions. Participants' characteristics in different PA pattern groups were tested using the Rao and Scott adjusted χ2 test and ANOVA. Univariate and multivariate stepped linear regression models were then used to explore the association between the PA pattern and VAI. Finally, stratified analyses and interaction effects were conducted to investigate whether the association was stable among subgroups. RESULTS: The final sample included 9642 adults 20 years or older, which is representative of 158.1 million noninstitutionalized US adults, with 52.15% (n=5169) being male and 70.8% (n=4443) being non-Hispanic White. Gender, age group, race, education level, income level, marital status, smoking status, alcoholism, VAI, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes were all correlated with the PA pattern, but no relationship between hypertension and PA pattern was observed. After adjusting for demographic covariates, smoking status, alcoholism, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension, WW and regularly active adults had a ß of .307 (95% CI -0.611 to -0.003) and .354 (95% CI -0.467 to -0.241), respectively, for reduced VAI when compared with inactive adults, but no significant effect of lowering VAI (ß=-.132, 95% CI -0.282 to 0.018) was observed in insufficiently active adults when compared with inactive adults. Besides, no significant difference was exhibited between WW adults and regularly active adults (ß=.047, 95% CI -0.258 to 0.352), suggesting WW adults had the same benefit of decreasing VAI as regularly active adults. Stratified analyses results exhibited that WW activity was related to reduced VAI in female adults aged 20-44 years who were non-Hispanic Black, other, or multiracial; high school or General Educational Development education; and never married, and the association between PA pattern and VAI remained stable in all demographic subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with inactive adults, WWs could reduce VAI, and there was no significant difference between WWs and regular active adults in decreasing VAI. Our study provides compelling evidence of the beneficial effect of WW activity on visceral obesity.

Whether weekend warrior activity and other leisure-time physical activity pattern reduce the risk of depression symptom in the representative adults? A population-based analysis of NHANES 2007-2020.

BACKGROUND: The rapid pace of life nowadays has seen a gradual increase in public involvement in weekend warrior (WW), a physical activity (PA) pattern that allows people to exercise once or twice a week, the recommended moderate-to-vigorous PA per week, since regular PA takes much time. We aim at exploring the effect of WW activity and other PA patterns on depression symptoms in U.S adults. METHODS: The level of PA was measured by self-reporting activity patterns, (inactive, insufficiently active, WW and regularly active). Participants with Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores above 10 are considered to have depression symptoms. RESULTS: A weighted sample of 23,258 participants representing 1049.8 million non-institutionalized U.S adults aged from 20 to 80. Compared with the inactive group, general adults who met the PA guidelines with PA once or twice per week [WW, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.790, 95%CI: 0.638, 0.987] or more frequent PA [Regularly active, (AOR = 0.761, 95%CI: 0.671, 0.864)], were inversely associated with depression symptoms, while the association has not been observed in adults with insufficiently active PA (AOR = 0.892, 95%CI: 0.783, 1.017). Increase in minutes, sessions and intensity of PA in regularly active and WW groups brought additional benefits for depression symptoms. CONCLUSION: WW and other equivalent PA intensities patterns may be sufficient to reduce the risk of depression symptom. With the same recommended levels of PA, whether spread over the week or done in fewer days, adults may achieve the same benefits.

Weekend warrior physical activity pattern is associated with lower depression risk: Findings from NHANES 2007-2018.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the association between weekend warrior physical activity (PA) pattern and depression risk in American adults. METHODS: Data of adults (n = 21,125) from NHANES 2007-2018 were used. Adults were categorized into 4 PA patterns (inactive, insufficiently active, weekend warrior, and regularly active) by self-reported PA levels. Participant characteristics in different groups were tested using the Rao & Scott adjusted χ2 test. Multivariate logistic regression models with adjustment for demographics data, behavioral factors and health condition were used to explore the association between PA patterns and depression risk. Finally, interaction analyses were conducted to test if the associations differ by gender, age, race, education level, income level and marital status. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression models showed that insufficiently active, weekend warrior and regularly active adults had 31% (OR: 0.69, 95%CI:0.54-0.88), 57% (OR: 0.43, 95%CI:0.25-0.74) and 54% (OR: 0.46, 95%CI:0.39-0.54) reduced depression risk when compared with inactive adults, respectively. When compared with regularly active adults, inactive (OR: 2.188, 95%CI:1.842-2.600) and insufficiently active (OR: 1.505, 95%CI:1.159-1.955) adults had elevated depression risk, but no significant difference was found between weekend warrior (OR: 0.949, 95%CI:0.538-1.675) and regularly active adults. Moreover, the associations did not differ by demographic variables. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that adults who engaged in either regularly active pattern or weekend warrior pattern, experienced lower risk of depression compared to inactive adults. Weekend warrior and regularly active patterns showed similar benefits for lowering depression risk in adults, encouraging adults to take up PA in limited sessions.

The Weekend Warrior: Common Shoulder and Elbow Injuries in the Recreational Athlete.

"Weekend warriors" are recreational athletes who compress their physical activity into 1-2 weekly exercise sessions. These individuals are generally older than the conventionally discussed athlete, and can live otherwise sedentary lifestyles that contribute to limited opportunities for regular exercise. The combination of high-energy physical activity with relative deconditioning, as well as older age and a potential history of competitive athletic play, can predispose these weekend warriors to a plethora of sports injuries. The shoulder and elbow are dynamically involved in a multitude of common recreational sports, such as baseball, softball, tennis, golf, and volleyball, and forms of casual exercise, such as swimming or climbing. A lack of proper conditioning and supplemental training in weekend warriors, particularly in comparison to elite athletes in these respective sports, can contribute to the development of both acute and chronic conditions of the shoulder and elbow. Inconsistency in physical activity can minimize the prominence of symptoms, leading patients to delayed presentations with injuries that severely impact their ability to engage in their exercise of choice, and therefore remain active at all. This narrative review aims to present the etiology, presentation, and management of common shoulder and elbow injuries that may afflict this patient population. Prevention strategies will also be discussed.

Association of the "Weekend Warrior" and Other Physical Activity Patterns with Metabolic Syndrome in the South Korean Population.

These days, it is not common for people to have time to do physical activities regularly because of their own work. So, they perform physical activities all at once, which is often called the "weekend warrior". Therefore, this study aimed to examine the association of the "weekend warrior" and other physical activity patterns with metabolic syndrome. Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used, and 27,788 participants were included. The participants were divided into inactive, weekend warriors, and regularly active based on physical activity patterns. The risk of metabolic syndrome in each group was analyzed using multiple logistic regression. The inactive and weekend warrior groups showed a higher likelihood of developing metabolic syndrome than the regularly active groups (weekend warrior: odds ratio (OR) 1.29, confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.65; inactive: OR 1.38, CI 1.25-1.53). According to the physical activity patterns, the weekend warrior group showed a dose-response relationship compared to the regularly active group (only moderate: OR 1.85, CI 1.25-2.72; only vigorous: OR 1.41, CI 0.93-2.14; both: OR 0.84, CI 0.56-1.27). This study found increasing the amount of physical activity and performing vigorous-intensity physical activity helped manage metabolic syndrome in the weekend warrior group.

Common Injuries of the Weekend Athlete.

Each year increasing numbers of people participate in a wider variety of athletic endeavors. Unlike previous generations, many patients remain in these activities later into their lives, some well beyond retirement. As the population ages and their activities continue, they are subject to injury of various forms affecting all aspects of their bodies.

Effects of Three Different Frequencies of Aerobic Physical Activity on Heart and Kidney Tissues in Type 2 Diabetes-Induced Rats.

OBJECTIVE: Exercise has many beneficial effects in the treatment and prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of physical activities with different frequencies performed within a total total duration of one week on the heart and kidney tissues and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expressions in experimental T2DM model. METHOD: Rats (n: 30) were divided into sedentary control (SC), sedentary T2DM (SD), T2DM and continuous exercise (DEc, 30 min/day, 5 days/week), T2DM and short bouts exercise (DEsb, 3x10 min/day, 5 days/week), T2DM and weekend warrior exercise (DEww, 35+40 min/day, 2 days/week) groups. Rats were administered streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) and nicotinamide (110 mg/kg) through intraperitoneal route. After 6-weeks of swimming exercise (total duration 150 min/week), biochemical analyzes were performed to measure oral glucose tolerance test, insulin sensitivity and cytokines. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses [VEGF, capillary density, Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß)] were performed in heart and kidney tissues. RESULTS: Compared with sedentary T2DM rats, significant improvements were observed in all exercise groups in terms of blood glucose level, insulin sensitivity, capillary density in heart tissue, VEGF expressions in tissues, TGF-ß expressions in kidney tissue and all histopathological analysis (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study shows that physical activity at various frequencies may significantly ameliorate harmful effects of T2DM on heart and kidney tissue without significant differences between exercise frequencies, provided that the total duration of aerobic exercise remains the same (150 min/week).

Effects of different aerobic exercise frequencies on streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced type 2 diabetic rats: Continuous versus short bouts and weekend warrior exercises.

BACKGROUND: Exercise training is known to have multiple beneficial effects on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was to explore the effects of aerobic exercise frequency on diabetic parameters, the histopathological structure of skeletal muscle, diabetic myopathy, and mitochondrial enzyme activity in an experimental model of T2DM. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 35) were rendered diabetic by injection of nicotinamide (110 mg/kg) and streptozotocin (65 mg/kg). Rats with blood glucose concentrations between 7 and 17 mmol/L were used. Diabetic rats were randomly allocated to one of the following groups: (i) control sedentary; (ii) diabetic sedentary; (iii) diabetic with continuous exercise (30 min/day, 5 days/week); (iv) diabetic with short bouts of exercise (3 × 10 min/day, 5 days/week); and (v) diabetic rats as "weekend warriors" (35 + 40 min/day, 2 days/week). After 6 weeks swimming exercise (total duration 150 min/week), biochemical tests were performed to measure insulin, glucose, cytokines, serum and muscle myeloperoxidase (MPO), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Histologic analysis (histomorphometric and mitochondrial enzyme analysis) was also performed. RESULTS: Compared with diabetic sedentary rats, significant improvements were observed in all exercise groups in terms of glucose levels, weight loss, tissue MPO and MDA levels, muscular connective tissue, muscle atrophy, mitochondrial enzyme, and all histomorphometric analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study emphasize the effects of training on inflammation, increased oxidative stress, myopathy, and mitochondrial damage in a rat model of T2DM, and demonstrate that there is no major difference between exercise modalities provided that the total duration of exercise remains the same.

Correlates of US adult physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns.

OBJECTIVES: Physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns may be differentially associated with socio-demographic and health measures. We explored correlates of day-to-day patterns over a week in accelerometer measured physical activity and sedentary behavior to inform intervention development. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) adult participants (≥20 years) in 2003-2006 wore an accelerometer for 1 week. Accelerometer data from 7236 participants were used to derive latent classes describing day-to-day patterns over a week of physical activity and sedentary behavior. Correlates of each pattern were identified using multinomial logistic regression from 21 potential variables grouped into four domains: socio-demographic, acculturation, cardiovascular, and health history. RESULTS: Older age, female sex, higher body mass index, and history of chronic disease were consistently associated with lower odds of being in a more active compared to the least active class. In contrast, being employed, speaking Spanish at home, and having better self-rated health were associated with higher odds of being in a more active compared to the least active class. CONCLUSIONS: Correlates of physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns were identified from all domains (socio-demographic, acculturation, cardiovascular, and health history). Most correlates that were positively associated with physical activity were negatively associated with sedentary behavior. Better understanding of the correlates of physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns can inform interventions to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior.