Rejoice, early birds! Scientists have found that exercising in the morning may be the best way to maintain a healthy weight. A study conducted by researchers at the Karolinska Institutet and the University of Copenhagen found that physical activity at a certain time of day – in the morning – increased fat metabolism in mice.
Professor Juleen Zierath, from Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, said: “The right timing seems to be important to the body’s energy balance and to improving the health benefits of exercise, but more studies are needed to draw any reliable conclusions about the relevance of our findings to humans.”
The results of the study may be attributed to circadian rhythms, which are 24-hour cycles that are a part of the body’s internal clock. The mice were put on a treadmill at two different times of day: during their late morning and late evening. The results showed that exercise during the early active phase increased the expression of genes involved in fat breakdown, heat production, and increased metabolic rate. This was independent of what the mice ate.
These findings correspond to a study from last year that also found morning exercise to have the strongest impact on blood pressure and fat levels. Women were particularly affected by this, while men experienced less of an impact from the time of day of their workout. The study also found that muscle-building was more effective with evening workouts, which improved mood and wellbeing.
So if your fitness goal is to maintain a healthy weight, it may be worth rising early and hitting the treadmill before you start your day.
