A new study suggests that exercising between 7am and 9am may be the key to weight management. The research found that starting the day with moderate to vigorous physical activity enhances the link between exercise and obesity. The study measured physical activity using an accelerometer, which tracks movement, and found a strong association between activity levels and obesity in the morning group.
Participants who met the recommended guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in the morning had lower body mass index and smaller waist sizes compared to those who exercised later in the day. These individuals also reported healthier diets and consumed fewer calories per unit of body weight.
Despite spending more time sitting or lying down compared to the other groups, the morning exercisers maintained their lower body mass index and waist size. The study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and included 5,285 participants who were split into morning, midday, and evening exercisers.
Assistant Professor Tongyu Ma, one of the researchers, stated that the diurnal pattern of physical activity is an important aspect to consider when studying human movement. Clinical psychologist Rebecca Krukowski, who was not involved in the study, added that the findings align with the common advice of scheduling exercise in the morning before distractions arise.
Exercise in the morning not only has benefits for weight management but also has a positive impact on overall health and well-being. Further research in this area could provide more insight into the optimal timing for physical activity and its effects on health outcomes.
Sources:
– Tongyu Ma, assistant professor at Franklin Pierce University and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
– Clinical psychologist Rebecca Krukowski from the University of Virginia School of Medicine
– Study published in Obesity, The Obesity Society’s journal
