Accelerometer-derived “weekend warrior” physical activity, genetic susceptibility, and risk of depression and anxiety: The UK Biobank study

Abstract

Importance

Guidelines recommend 150 min per week (min/wk) or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for mental health benefits. However, the relative effects of concentrated against more evenly distributed activity patterns remain unclear.

Objective

We aimed to examine associations of the accelerometer-derived “weekend warrior (WW)” pattern (MVPA concentrated within 1 to 2 days) vs MVPA spread more evenly with risk of depression and anxiety.

Design, setting, and participants

This prospective cohort study included 84,570 participants with accelerometer data identified from the UK Biobank.

Exposures

Three MVPA patterns were compared: active WW (MVPA ≥150 min/wk and ≥50 % of total MVPA within 1 to 2 days), active regular (MVPA ≥150 min/wk but not active WW), and inactive (MVPA <150 min/wk).

Main outcomes and measures

Cox regression was used to assess the association of MVPA patterns with depression and anxiety, and whether the association differed by different levels of sedentary time (≤6, 7–12, ≥13 h/day) and light physical activity (≤60, 61–150, ≥151 min/day). We also evaluated the combined impact of MVPA patterns and genetic susceptibility on depression and anxiety.

Results

During the follow-up of up to 9.40 years, 2098 and 2699 cases of depression and anxiety were identified, respectively. Compared with inactive group, active regular and active WW groups exhibited similarly reduced risks of depression (active regular: HR, 0.74 [95 % CI, 0.66–0.84]; active WW: 0.72 [0.65–0.80]) and anxiety (active regular: 0.77 [0.69–0.86]; active WW: 0.72 [0.66–0.79]). The impact of active regular and active WW groups on depression and anxiety was more pronounced among individuals with excessive sedentary time (≥13 h/day) and insufficient light physical activity (≤60 min/day). Individuals with low genetic risk and active regular (depression: 0.64 [0.48–0.87]; anxiety: 0.62 [0.49–0.79]), as well as low genetic risk and active WW groups (depression: 0.60 [0.47–0.77]; anxiety: 0.59 [0.48–0.72]) exhibited the lowest risks of depression and anxiety compared to those with high genetic risk and inactive group.

Conclusions and relevance

Adherence to active physical activity, regardless of physical activity concentrated within 1 to 2 days or more evenly distributed, may help reduce depression and anxiety risks across a population with different genetic risk profiles.