Association of the “Weekend Warrior” and Other Leisure-time Physical Activity Patterns With All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality: A Nationwide Cohort Study

IMPORTANCE: It is unclear whether the weekly recommended amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) has the same benefits for mortality risk when activity sessions are spread throughout the week vs concentrated in fewer days. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of weekend warrior and other patterns of leisure-time physical activity with all-cause and cause-specific mortality. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This large nationwide prospective cohort study included 350 978 adults who self-reported physical activity to the US National Health Interview Survey from 1997 to 2013. Participant data were linked to the National Death Index through December 31, 2015. EXPOSURES: Participants were grouped by self-reported activity level: physically inactive (