A new study has resolved the widespread debate regarding the best time to exercise in order to obtain the greatest possible health benefits.
Researchers in Spain found that those who exercised at 6 p.m., whether running, cycling, or another activity, had lower blood sugar compared to those who exercised in the morning.
The researchers argued that this suggested that evening exercisers had a more active metabolism and were better able to resist hunger pangs.
They suggested this meant they would burn more calories during the day and expend less energy.
Research indicates that muscle cells usually become less able to absorb blood sugar in the evening, because insulin decreases at this time.
But exercising in the evening boosts insulin levels, making it easier for cells to absorb sugar from the bloodstream and burn it for energy.
During the study, researchers tracked 186 Spanish adults for two weeks, most of whom were obese.
Each participant wore an accelerometer to track exercise and a continuous blood glucose monitor to track blood sugar.
Exercise times were divided into the morning (from 6 am to 12 noon), the afternoon (from 12 noon to 6 pm), or the evening (from 6 pm to 12 am).
The researchers then compared blood sugar levels between participants who did not exercise for a day, with those who exercised at different times.
“Exercise during the evening appears to have a beneficial effect on blood sugar in sedentary adults with obesity,” wrote Dr. Antonio Clavero-Gimeno, a sports scientist at the University of Granada in Spain, and others involved in the study.
The study was only conducted in obese and overweight people, which means it is unclear whether the results apply to people who are a healthy weight.
Fascinating study.
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