Sedentary BehaviorNCT07714486
Effects of "Weekend Warrior" Exercise on Muscle Strength and Cardiorespiratory Finess in Sedentary Female University Students
A study testing Weekend Warrior Exercise and Regular Exercise in people with Sedentary Behavior and Physical Inactivity, run by Chongqing Normal University at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of a weekend warrior exercise pattern on muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness in sedentary female university students. Forty participants were randomly assigned to either a weekend warrior group or a regular exercise group. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Sedentary Behavior, Physical Inactivity
- What is being tested?
- Weekend Warrior Exercise and Regular Exercise
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 5 Mar 2026to 10 Jul 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 25 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Female university students aged 18 to 25 years.
- An average daily sedentary time of at least 8 hours, as assessed using the Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire.
- Less than 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity or less than 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, as assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.
- Regular menstrual cycles without the use of hormonal contraceptives.
Who cannot join
- Identified as being at risk for participation in physical activity based on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire.
- Current smoking or drug use.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
China1 site
Chongqing Normal University
Chongqing, Chongqing Municipality, 401331
About this study
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of a weekend warrior exercise pattern on muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness in sedentary female university students. Forty participants were randomly assigned to either a weekend warrior group or a regular exercise group. Both groups completed 150 minutes of moderate-intensity jogging and resistance exercise per week for 8 weeks, but the weekly exercise sessions were distributed differently. Body composition, functional muscular performance, and aerobic capacity were assessed before and after the intervention.
Read the detailed description
This was an 8-week, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial involving 40 sedentary female university students aged 18 to 25 years. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either a weekend warrior group or a regular exercise group.
The weekend warrior group exercised on two consecutive days per week, completing 50 minutes of jogging and 25 minutes of resistance training per session. The regular exercise group exercised on three days per week, including two 50-minute jogging sessions and one 50-minute resistance-training session. Both groups completed 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. Exercise intensity was maintained at a Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion of 13-14 and monitored using the talk test.
Assessments were conducted before and after the intervention. Body composition was evaluated using the InBody 770. Muscular performance was assessed using knee push-ups, sit-ups, and body-weight squats, while aerobic capacity was assessed using the 12-minute run test. All assessments were performed by the same trained assessor under standardized conditions.
- Conditions
- Sedentary Behavior, Physical Inactivity
- Being tested
- Weekend Warrior Exercise, Regular Exercise
- Keywords
- Weekend Warrior Exercise, Muscle Strength, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Sedentary Female University Students
- Medical subject headings
- Sedentary Behavior
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Weekend Warrior ExerciseBehavioural
Participants exercised on two consecutive days per week for 8 weeks. Each session included 50 minutes of jogging and 25 minutes of resistance training. Exercise intensity was maintained at a Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion of 13-14 and monitored using the talk test. The total weekly exercise duration was 150 minutes.
Regular ExerciseBehavioural
Participants exercised on three days per week for 8 weeks, completing two 50-minute jogging sessions and one 50-minute resistance-training session. Exercise intensity was maintained at a Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion of 13-14 and monitored using the talk test. The total weekly exercise duration was 150 minutes.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend Warrior Group | Experimental | Participants completed an 8-week weekend warrior exercise program on two consecutive days per week. Each session consisted of 50 minutes of moderate-intensity jogging and 25 minutes of resistance training, totaling 150 minutes of exercise per week. Receives: Behavioral: Weekend Warrior Exercise |
| Regular Exercise Group | Active comparator | Participants completed an 8-week regular exercise program on three days per week, including two 50-minute moderate-intensity jogging sessions and one 50-minute resistance-training session, totaling 150 minutes of exercise per week. Receives: Behavioral: Regular Exercise |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Knee Push-up Performance
The number of correctly completed knee push-ups performed continuously until volitional fatigue was recorded. Higher values indicate better upper-body muscular performance.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
Sit-up Performance
The number of correctly completed sit-ups performed continuously until volitional fatigue was recorded. Higher values indicate better abdominal muscular performance.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
Body-weight Squat Performance
The number of correctly completed body-weight squats performed continuously until volitional fatigue was recorded. Higher values indicate better lower-body muscular performance.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
12-minute Run Distance
The total distance covered during the 12-minute run test on a flat outdoor track was recorded in meters. A longer distance indicates better cardiorespiratory fitness.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
Secondary outcomes (4)
Body Weight
Body weight was measured using the InBody 770 bioelectrical impedance analyzer and reported in kilograms.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
Change in Body Mass Index
Body mass index was assessed using the InBody 770 and reported in kilograms per square meter.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
Body Fat Percentage
Body fat percentage was assessed using the InBody 770 bioelectrical impedance analyzer and reported as a percentage.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
Waist-to-hip Ratio
Waist-to-hip ratio was calculated by dividing waist circumference by hip circumference. Lower values generally indicate lower central adiposity.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Jul 2026
- Study start5 Mar 2026
- Primary completion20 Jun 2026
- Study completion10 Jul 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Sedentary BehaviorStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Chongqing Normal University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Zhao Fangyuan, Chongqing Normal University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07714486
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- CNU-WW-2026-01
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 15 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 20 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of "Weekend Warrior" Exercise on Muscle Strength and Cardiorespiratory Finess in Sedentary Female University Students
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07714486
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CNU-WW-2026-01
- Conditions
- Sedentary Behavior, Physical Inactivity
- Keywords
- Weekend Warrior Exercise, Muscle Strength, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Sedentary Female University Students
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Chongqing Normal UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 5 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 20 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 10 Jul 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 20 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of a weekend warrior exercise pattern on muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness in sedentary female university students. Forty participants were randomly assigned to either a weekend warrior group or a regular exercise group. Both groups completed 150 minutes of moderate-intensity jogging and resistance exercise per week for 8 weeks, but the weekly exercise sessions were distributed differently. Body composition, functional muscular performance, and aerobic capacity were assessed before and after the intervention.
Detailed description
This was an 8-week, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial involving 40 sedentary female university students aged 18 to 25 years. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either a weekend warrior group or a regular exercise group.
The weekend warrior group exercised on two consecutive days per week, completing 50 minutes of jogging and 25 minutes of resistance training per session. The regular exercise group exercised on three days per week, including two 50-minute jogging sessions and one 50-minute resistance-training session. Both groups completed 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. Exercise intensity was maintained at a Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion of 13-14 and monitored using the talk test.
Assessments were conducted before and after the intervention. Body composition was evaluated using the InBody 770. Muscular performance was assessed using knee push-ups, sit-ups, and body-weight squats, while aerobic capacity was assessed using the 12-minute run test. All assessments were performed by the same trained assessor under standardized conditions.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend Warrior Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Weekend Warrior ExerciseParticipants completed an 8-week weekend warrior exercise program on two consecutive days per week. Each session consisted of 50 minutes of moderate-intensity jogging and 25 minutes of resistance training, totaling 150 minutes of exercise per week. |
| Regular Exercise Group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Regular ExerciseParticipants completed an 8-week regular exercise program on three days per week, including two 50-minute moderate-intensity jogging sessions and one 50-minute resistance-training session, totaling 150 minutes of exercise per week. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 25 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Female university students aged 18 to 25 years.
- An average daily sedentary time of at least 8 hours, as assessed using the Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire.
- Less than 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity or less than 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, as assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.
- Regular menstrual cycles without the use of hormonal contraceptives.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Identified as being at risk for participation in physical activity based on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire.
- Current smoking or drug use.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend Warrior ExerciseParticipants exercised on two consecutive days per week for 8 weeks. Each session included 50 minutes of jogging and 25 minutes of resistance training. Exercise intensity was maintained at a Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion of 13-14 and monitored using the talk test. The total weekly exercise duration was 150 minutes. | Behavioural | Weekend Warrior Group |
| Regular ExerciseParticipants exercised on three days per week for 8 weeks, completing two 50-minute jogging sessions and one 50-minute resistance-training session. Exercise intensity was maintained at a Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion of 13-14 and monitored using the talk test. The total weekly exercise duration was 150 minutes. | Behavioural | Regular Exercise Group |
Primary outcome
Knee Push-up Performance
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
The number of correctly completed knee push-ups performed continuously until volitional fatigue was recorded. Higher values indicate better upper-body muscular performance.
Sit-up Performance
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
The number of correctly completed sit-ups performed continuously until volitional fatigue was recorded. Higher values indicate better abdominal muscular performance.
Body-weight Squat Performance
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
The number of correctly completed body-weight squats performed continuously until volitional fatigue was recorded. Higher values indicate better lower-body muscular performance.
12-minute Run Distance
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
The total distance covered during the 12-minute run test on a flat outdoor track was recorded in meters. A longer distance indicates better cardiorespiratory fitness.
4 secondary outcomes
Body Weight
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
Change in Body Mass Index
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
Body Fat Percentage
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
Waist-to-hip Ratio
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Weekend Warrior Exercise and Regular Exercise in people with Sedentary Behavior and Physical Inactivity, run by Chongqing Normal University at 1 site in China.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Knee Push-up Performance (time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Jul 2026.