The association between weekend warrior physical activity pattern and anxiety: evidence from a U.S. population-based study.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates the association between the Weekend Warrior (WW) pattern and the risk of anxiety among American adults, offering insights into a more flexible exercise strategy for individuals with limited time for regular exercise during weekdays.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the 2007-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to examine the relationship between different physical activity (PA) patterns and the risk of anxiety. Multivariate logistic regression, subgroup interaction, restricted cubic spline analysis (RCS), and sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess this association.

RESULTS

Compared to inactive individuals, those engaging in WW pattern (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.48-0.90, p = 0.010), insufficiently active (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.62-0.82, p < 0.001), or regularly active pattern (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.65-0.87, p < 0.001) showed significantly lower risk of anxiety. Subgroup interaction analyses revealed significant effect modification in the poverty income ratio (PIR) and diabetes subgroups (P for interaction < 0.05), while no significant interactions were observed for other variables. RCS analysis showed a significant nonlinear relationship between recreational moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity and risk of anxiety (P for nonlinear < 0.001). Sensitivity analyses further confirmed the stability of the findings.

CONCLUSION

The WW pattern was associated with a lower risk of anxiety. For individuals unable to exercise consistently throughout the week, the WW pattern offers a practical alternative for reducing the risk of anxiety, particularly among those with lower income levels or diabetes.