How to live longer: ‘Weekend warriors’ could ward off anxiety and boost longevity

Sting demonstrates 'perpetual crunch' exercise on TikTok

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The reason for this is because there are two schools of thought regarding exercise.

Some say the best way to exercise is to spread it out over the week.

Meanwhile others, sometimes referred to as “weekend warriors”, choose to conduct all of their exercise at the weekend.

A new study has found, despite the five-day gap, that people who do all their exercise at the weekend experience the same health benefits as those who spread it out over the week.

Published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, the authors concluded: “For people with fewer opportunities for daily or regular physical activity during their work week, these findings are important.

“These findings suggest that whether the recommended amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity is spread out during the week or concentrated into fewer days, there may be no significant difference in health benefits.”

Although the results of this study suggest people who save their exercise until the weekend, the American Heart Association (AHA) say exercise should be “preferably spread throughout the week”.

Nevertheless, the findings were described by Dr John Tabacco as “extremely encouraging”.

Despite this, Dr John Tabacco cautioned: “You don’t want to have five days of being completely sedentary and then try to run a marathon on the weekends.”

How exercise can improve mental health.

As well as physical health, exercise is known to have significant psychological benefits.

In the past studies have linked activity to the easing of symptoms of anxiety and depression.

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How does it work?

The Mayo Clinic says exercise reduces feelings of anxiety and depression by “releasing feel-good endorphins, natural cannabis-like brain chemicals and other natural brain chemicals that can enhance your sense of well-being”.

What are the main types of exercise?

There are two main types of exercise, cardiovascular and resistance exercise.

Cardiovascular exercise includes activities such as walking, running, and cycling.

Resistance exercise includes activities such as lifting weights

Which is the most effective?

There are debates over which is the most effective, with separate studies finding it can depend on what the targets of the person conducting the exercise are.

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