Scientists identify the best time of the day for exercising
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Physical exercise in the evening could significantly lower health risks for obese individuals, notably premature death and cardiovascular problems, according to a study from the University of Sydney.
Researchers analyzed data from 30,000 people monitored for nearly eight years. They used wearable devices to categorize the physical activity of participants into morning, afternoon, or evening. They discovered that those who performed the majority of their moderate to vigorous aerobic activity in the evening had the lowest risks of premature mortality and deaths due to cardiovascular diseases.
The study, published on April 10th in the journal Diabetes Care, was led by the Charles Perkins Centre at the University. It highlights the importance of the frequency of moderate to vigorous physical activities, measured in short episodes of three minutes or more, rather than the total amount of daily physical activity.
According to Dr. Angelo Sabag, a lecturer in exercise physiology at the University of Sydney, this research suggests that planning physical activities at specific times of the day might reduce some health risks associated with obesity.
Data included 29,836 obese adults over the age of 40, 2,995 of whom were also diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Researchers followed their health over 7.9 years, recording 1,425 deaths and 3,980 cardiovascular events.
While observational, this study reinforces the idea that physical activity later in the day could help manage glucose intolerance and associated complications in individuals living with obesity or diabetes.
Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, the director of the Mackenzie Wearables Research Hub at the Charles Perkins Centre and the study's lead author, emphasized that the use of wearable devices offers an accurate view of physical activity patterns, crucial for translating findings into practical recommendations for obesity and type 2 diabetes management.