Weekend workouts almost as beneficial as regular exercise: study

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We are well into February,... but one of the most common New Year's resolutions is exercising more.
While a regular workout regime was on many people's wish lists this year, sticking with it... is easier said than done.
But there's new research that could make it a little easier to follow through on.
The findings show that cramming a week's worth of exercise into one or two days on the weekend has similar benefits to busting a gut in the gym every weekday.
Park Se-young has the details.
Many people find it difficult to squeeze in time for exercise during the week.
Piles of data show the positive effects of regular physical activity,... but a recent study shows that cramming all of your workouts into the weekend provides almost the same health benefits as exercising throughout the week.
The World Health Organization recommends 150 minutes of moderate activity, like fast walking and cycling,... or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, such as running,... per week.
According to a recent study of more than 60-thousand adults in England and Scotland, those who fulfilled those requirements solely on the weekend had similar health benefits to those who exercised throughout the week.
People who exercised throughout the week had a 35 percent lower risk of death compared to inactive adults,... with the risk of death from heart disease and cancer reduced by 41 percent and 21 percent, respectively.
Those who crammed a week's worth of exercise into the weekend were also found to have similarly reduced mortality risks.
The findings were confirmed in a 2013 study by Canadian researchers, which show that the total amount of exercise may be more important than the frequency.
But experts advise caution with this approach.

"If the body is unprepared for sudden exercise, it is vulnerable to injury. Too much cardiovascular exercise can cause a heart attack or cardiac arrest."

And if weight loss or muscle gain is the goal of an exercise program, experts say a daily routine is likely to make your workouts more effective.
Park Se-young, Arirang News.

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