Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- cram / kræm / (v.) – to do or accomplish a lot of things in a short time
Example:The manager will be on leave tomorrow, so she’s cramming all her meetings into this afternoon.
- vigorous / ˈvɪg ər əs / (adj.) – using a lot of energy, strength, and force
Example:He thinks cleaning the entire house is a vigorous workout because he puts so much effort into it.
- epidemiologist / ˌep ɪ diː miˈɒl ə dʒɪst / (n.) – a person who studies how illnesses are discovered, developed, and managed in communities
Example:During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people realized how important epidemiologists are.
- concentrated / ˈkɒn sənˌtreɪ tɪd / (adj.) – relating to something that is done with a lot of effort and attention
Example:He took a long break but came back ready to work with a concentrated focus.
- burst / bɜrst / (n.) – a sudden increase in something, particularly for a brief time
Example:He had a burst of energy after drinking coffee.
Article
Read the text below.
During the workweek, time to exercise can quickly slip away. But meeting physical activity targets by cramming workouts into the weekend could actually buy back time in the long run.
A new study reports that people whose physical activity fits a “weekend warrior” pattern might lower the risk of an early death from cardiovascular disease, cancer and other causes. The study defined weekend warriors as people who achieved 150 minutes or more a week of moderate to vigorous physical activity in just one or two days.
Compared with less active people, the study’s weekend warriors were 32% less likely to die from any cause over a follow-up period of roughly eight years. Also, they were 31% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease and 21% less likely to die from cancer during that time. The results were similar among people who met or exceeded physical activity targets but spread their exercise across three or more days a week.
The findings were published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
“You don’t need to exercise every day to stay healthy. As long as you get 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each week,” study co-author Dr. Zhi-Hao Li said in a news release. Li is an epidemiologist in the School of Public Health at Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, China.
“This message is encouraging news for busy people who struggle to fit in daily workouts but can manage a concentrated burst of activity on weekends or over a couple of days,” Li said.
Federal guidelines recommend that each week, adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, or an equivalent combination.
In the new study, nearly 43% of participants were classified as weekend warriors, and almost 24% hit the physical activity targets by spreading exercise throughout the week.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- In a new study, people who exercised only on weekends were still healthier than those who did very little. Does this finding change the way you think about when and how to exercise? Why or why not? Which do you think is more important: how often you exercise or how much effort you put in? Why? Discuss.
- Would you rather exercise a little every day or a lot just once or twice a week? Why? What exercise routine would be perfect for your lifestyle? Discuss.
Discussion B
- Some people end up cramming all their workouts, chores, and plans into the weekend or even just one day. How do you feel when your weekend is packed with activities (ex. gives me energy, stresses me out)? How would you describe your perfect weekend? Discuss.
- Is it better to do many things in one day and relax later, or spread tasks over the week? Why? What helps you stay calm and organized when you have a busy day or weekend? Discuss.
