Seoul City University Institute Offers Practical Physical Activity Strategies for Low-Income Groups

Concentrating physical activity into weekend workouts may significantly lower the risk of hypertension, particularly for individuals in lower-income brackets, according to new research from Seoul City University's Urban Elderly Health Exercise Research Institute.

The study, which analyzed data from 28,039 adults who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2018 and 2023, found a notable association between being a 'weekend warrior', engaging in moderate to vigorous physical activity once or twice a week, and a reduced likelihood of developing hypertension compared to those who were physically inactive.

Professor Je Se-young, the lead researcher, explained the practical implications of the findings. "Not everyone can exercise regularly on weekdays," she stated. "For strata facing difficulties in participating in exercise due to long working hours and economic constraints, concentrating exercise on weekends can be a realistic alternative."

This research supports the institute's broader mission to improve health equity among urban vulnerable elderly populations and develop practical, actionable exercise strategies. The study was supported by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea and published online in Clinical Hypertension, the official international journal of the Korean Society of Hypertension.

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Not everyone can exercise regularly on weekdays. For strata facing difficulties in participating in exercise due to long working hours and economic constraints, concentrating exercise on weekends can be a realistic alternative.