Association of weekend warrior physical activity pattern with health outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to systematically review and analyze the associations between 'Weekend Warrior' patterns (>= 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA] per week in 1-2 days) and health outcomes compared to regular physical activity patterns (>= 150 minutes of MVPA distributed over >= 3 days). Study design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and EMBASE databases up to July 2025. Metaanalysis using random-effects models was performed for health outcomes, including mortality (all-cause, cancer, cardiovascular disease), metabolic diseases (metabolic syndrome, hypertension, obesity, type 2 diabetes), and depression. Results: We included 18 publications (8 cohorts and 11 cross-sectional studies). Both weekend warrior and regular physical activity patterns showed similar associations with health outcomes compared to inactivity. Lower risks were observed for all-cause mortality (Weekend warrior: relative risk (RR) 0.76, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.66-0.87; Regular physical activity: RR 0.71, 95 % CI 0.63-0.80), cardiovascular disease mortality (Weekend warrior: RR 0.74, 95 % CI 0.60-0.91; Regular physical activity: RR 0.69, 95 % CI 0.56-0.85), and cancer mortality (Weekend warrior: RR 0.81, 95 % CI 0.75-0.88; Regular physical activity: RR 0.86, 95 % CI 0.81-0.93). Both patterns were similarly associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome, hypertension, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and depression compared to inactivity. Conclusion: The weekend warrior patterns of physical activity may serve as a practical alternative for timeconstrained individuals, showing benefits similar to regular physical activity patterns for diverse health outcomes.