The latest research by Chinese scientists shows that people can achieve the health benefits of daily exercise by engaging in physical activities for moderate to vigorous intensity for 1 to 2 days a week, as long as the total duration is at least 150 minutes per week. This research report was published in the recent issue of the "American Heart Association Journal".

Dr. Li Zhihao, an epidemiologist from Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, said that engaging in 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week, whether concentrated in 1 to 2 days or spread out over time, can significantly reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, or other causes. Those who cannot schedule physical exercise every day can focus on high-intensity activities on weekends. This study provides reliable evidence that even occasional physical activity can bring long-term health benefits, making it easier for people to prioritize their health in their busy schedules.
Meanwhile, British researchers also conducted a large-scale data analysis involving 93,000 people to explore how different patterns of physical activity affect the risk of all-cause mortality. The data of the individuals were divided into three groups: "weekend active", who spent most of their exercise time on one or two days of the weekend; "regular active", who exercised at different times throughout the week; and "inactive", who did not meet the recommended minimum of 150 minutes of physical activity per week. The results showed that compared with the "inactive" group, the other two groups had significantly lower risks of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, and cancer mortality if they completed 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Among them, the all-cause mortality risk and cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality risk of the "weekend active" group decreased by 32% and 31%, 21% respectively; the all-cause mortality risk and cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality risk of the "regular active" group decreased by 26% and 24%, 13% respectively.