Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41214631›Full record

SynthesisBMC public health2025

The weekend warrior phenomenon: comparable mortality reduction to regular exercise with enhanced neuroprotective effects-a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Xiaoyue Zhang, Peiyuan Tang, Ying Zhu, Han Tan, Haoxuan Li, Wenfeng Xiao, Ting Wen, Yusheng Li, Yaping Wang, Shiyao Chu and 1 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Xiaoyue Zhang *Department of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China, Hunan, 410008.
Peiyuan Tang *Department of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China, Hunan, 410008.
Ying ZhuDepartment of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China, Hunan, 410008.
Han TanDepartment of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China, Hunan, 410008.
Haoxuan LiDepartment of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China, Hunan, 410008.
Wenfeng XiaoDepartment of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China, Hunan, 410008.
Ting WenDepartment of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China, Hunan, 410008.
Yusheng LiDepartment of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China, Hunan, 410008.
Yaping WangDepartment of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Shiyao ChuDepartment of Traumatology and Orthopedics of the Belarusian State Medical, University, st. Uralskaya, Minsk, Belarus. chushiyao1992@yandex.by.
Bangbao LuDepartment of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China, Hunan, 410008. orthop_bangbaolu@csu.edu.cn.

Funding

Hunan Provincial Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars 2024JJ2089National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital, Grant No. 2021KFJJ02 and 2021LNJJ05National Clinical Research Center for Orthopedics, Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation 2021-NCRC-CXJJ-PY-40National Key R&D Program of China 2023YFC3603400National Natural Science Foundation of China No.882072506, 92268115, 82272611Science and Technology Innovation Program of Hunan Province No.2021JJ31105
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe "weekend warrior" (WW) physical activity pattern-characterized by low-frequency, high-intensity exercise concentrated in 1-2 sessions per week-has gained popularity, yet its health implications remain controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the benefits and risks of the WW pattern compared to regular or inactive PA regimens, focusing on mortality, cardiometabolic and neurological outcomes.

methodsTwo independent investigators searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for studies published from 01/01/1975 to 01/22/2025. Eligible studies compared health outcomes among WW, regularly active (RA), and inactive populations were included. Outcomes included all-cause/cause-specific mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD), metabolic disorders, and neurological conditions. Pooled hazard ratios (HR) and odds ratios (OR) were calculated by either random-effects model or fixed-effects model, depending on heterogeneity.

resultsAmong the 21 included studies (14 cohort, 7 cross-sectional), WW was associated with reduced all-cause mortality risk versus inactive population (HR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.68-0.87, P < 0.0001), comparable to the benefit observed with RA (HR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.63-0.78, P < 0.00001). WW was also linked to reduced risks of CVD mortality (HR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.66-0.97), cancer mortality (HR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.77-0.95), and incident CVD (HR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.64-0.82) when compared with inactivity. Notably, WW conferred greater neuroprotective effects than RA (HR = 0.71 vs. 0.76; P < 0.00001), with a substantial risk reduction compared with inactivity (HR = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.65-0.77). Risk of metabolic disease in WW showed a modest decrease (OR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.65-0.88, P = 0.0004), although no significant improvements were observed in individual metabolic indices.

conclusionCompared with inactivity, the WW pattern offers mortality and cardiometabolic benefits comparable to regular activity, along with uniquely enhanced neuroprotective effects, supporting its viability for time-constrained individuals.

trial registrationPROSPERO: CRD42024583406.

Indexed as

ExerciseMortalityNeuroprotectionCardiovascular DiseasesHumansCardiovascular diseaseMetabolic syndromeMortalityNeurological outcomesWeekend warrior

Identifiers

PMID41214631
PMCPMC12604259

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.