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. 2025 Feb;27(2):482-489.
doi: 10.1111/dom.16017. Epub 2024 Nov 25.

Association of 'weekend warrior' and other leisure time physical activity patterns with obesity and adiposity: A cross-sectional study

Stanley Sai-Chuen Hui  1 , Edwin Chun-Yip Chin  1 , Jacky Ka Wai Chan  2 , Ben Ping-Shing Chan  2 , James Ho-Pong Wan  1 , Sam Wing-Sum Wong  3
Affiliations

Association of 'weekend warrior' and other leisure time physical activity patterns with obesity and adiposity: A cross-sectional study

Stanley Sai-Chuen Hui et al. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2025 Feb.

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the effect of different physical activity patterns on obesity.

Materials and methods: Data from adults aged 17-79 years were extracted from the Hong Kong Territory-Wide Physical Fitness Survey conducted in 2011-2012 and 2021-2022. Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) patterns were collected through questionnaires and categorized as inactive (no MVPA ≥10 min), insufficiently active (<150 min MVPA/week), weekend warriors (≥150 min MVPA/week from 1 to 2 days) and regularly active (≥150 min MVPA/week from ≥3 days). The association between these activity patterns with obesity risk and body fat percentage was analysed.

Results: This study included 9863 obesity data (including valid waist circumference and body mass index) and 7496 body fat data. Compared with the inactive group, the weekend warriors and regularly active individuals had lower risks of general and abdominal obesity, as well as reduced body fat. Furthermore, individuals who were insufficiently active but engaged in ≥3 days of MVPA showed significantly lower body fat and obesity risk than their inactive counterparts.

Conclusion: Engaging in physical activity even once or twice a week can positively impact weight control.

Keywords: body fatness; body mass index; exercise frequency; obesity; waist circumference; weekend warrior.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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