Exercising in the morning is best for weight loss, study says

Exercising in the morning is best for weight loss, study says


You may have heard the old saw that the early bird gets the worm. But have you heard the one about the early bird winning the battle of the bulge?

A recent study published in the research journal Obesity shows that exercising between 7 and 9 in the morning is associated with a smaller waist circumference and lower body mass index compared with those who work out at midday or in the evening.

The study analyzed health and activity data from more than 5,000 people who participated in a national survey on health and nutrition run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Participants wore activity trackers on their right hip to track calories and physical exertion.

The study found that those who exercised in the morning had an average BMI of 27.5, compared with later exercisers’ average BMI of 28.3.  Midday exercise was defined as between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., while evening exercise fell between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

The early exercisers’ average waist circumference, adjusted for diet quality and caloric intake, was 38 inches, or roughly six-tenths of an inch smaller than the waistlines of their later-exercising peers.

Past research has shown that exercising during a fasted state causes the body to rely more on stored fat for energy than stored glucose from food. That means early birds are better equipped to burn fat during workouts and the next day, too. Even if they’re not active.

Consider adding a morning jog to your routine. Or hit that sunrise yoga class you wrote off as unreasonably early.

A change in your internal clock might take getting used to, but success on the scale might make it worth your while.

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