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Published on: March 7, 2019
Association of "weekend warrior" and leisure time physical activity patterns with health-related physical fitness: a
Stanley Sai-Chuen Hui1, Edwin Chun-Yip Chin2, Jacky Ka-Wai Chan2
1Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. stanley.hui.36081@gmail.com.
Background:
Few studies have examined the associations between "weekend warrior" activity patterns and health-related physical fitness.
Purpose:
This study investigated the associations between "weekend warrior" and leisure time physical activity patterns on health-related physical fitness.
Methods:
Data were extracted from the Hong Kong Territory-wide Physical Fitness Survey 2021. The sampling was based on the proportion of citizens' demographic distribution (age, gender, employment status, working industries) indicated from the Hong Kong government's 2021 population census statistics. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) patterns were collected through questionnaires and categorized as follows: inactive (no MVPA), insufficiently active (< 150 min of MVPA per week), weekend warrior (≥ 150 min of MVPA on one or two days per week), and regularly active (≥ 150 min of MVPA on three or more days per week). All health-related physical fitness components were measured, including cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max), muscular strength (handgrip strength), muscular endurance (plank), flexibility (sit and reach), and body composition (fat mass/fat-free mass).
Results:
A total of 5,091 adults aged 17-59 years were recruited. One hundred twenty-four test sessions were conducted across all administrative districts in Hong Kong. Compared with inactive individuals, regularly active individuals performed significantly better in all measured health-related fitness components. Weekend warriors also demonstrated superior fitness levels to their inactive counterparts, except in cardiorespiratory fitness. When considering only vigorous intensity, weekend warrior individuals still achieved better VO2max, handgrip strength, plank, sit and reach, and body composition than inactive individuals. Furthermore, those who were insufficiently active but engaged in at least three days of MVPA or who completed half of the recommended MVPA volume still achieved significantly better performance across all fitness components than the inactive individuals.
Conclusion:
Individuals who do not have time to be regularly active can still benefit in most health-related physical fitness components by performing the recommended volume of physical activity once or twice a week.
