Study Suggests Evening Exercise Offers Health Benefits for People with Obesity
A recent study published in the journal Diabetes Care suggests that engaging in physical activity in the evening may offer more health benefits for individuals with obesity compared to morning exercise routines.
Conducted by researchers from the University of Sydney, Australia, the study analyzed wearable device data from 30,000 participants over nearly 8 years. They found that individuals who engaged in aerobic moderate to vigorous physical activity, which elevates heart rate, between 6 pm and midnight had the lowest risk of premature death and death from cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Angelo Sabag, a Lecturer in Exercise Physiology at the University of Sydney, highlighted the significance of these findings, especially considering that around two in three Australians are affected by excess weight or obesity, putting them at higher risk of cardiovascular conditions and premature death.
The study focused on tracking continuous aerobic exercise in bouts of 3 minutes or more and emphasized that the frequency of exercise mattered more than the total amount of physical activity daily.
Additionally, the researchers noted that evening physical activity might help offset some of the intolerance and complications associated with diabetes or obesity, particularly in mitigating glucose intolerance in the late evening.
However, Dr. Sabag stressed that exercise alone is not the sole solution to the obesity crisis. Nonetheless, the study suggests that individuals who can schedule their physical activity during specific times of the day may better mitigate certain health risks associated with obesity and related conditions.
