Philippa Roxby
Reuters
Philippa Roxby wrote this article in Reuters:
Exercise is good for you whenever you do it, but the time of day to achieve the best result may be different for women and men, according to a US study.
It found women burned more body fat during morning exercise, whereas evenings counted more for men.
Much of what is known on this topic is based on studies on men, the researchers say.
Differences in hormones, in biological clocks and sleep-wake cycles between the sexes, could all play a role.
The study of 30 men and 26 women - all active and healthy, and between 25 and 55 years old - lasted 12 weeks and monitored the effects of a varied fitness programme, which included stretching, sprint, resistance and endurance training.
One group exercised for an hour before 08:30 while the other group followed the same activities in the evening, between 18:00 and 20:00. All participants followed a specially-designed meal plan.
The researchers tested everyone's blood pressure and body fat over the course of the study, as well as their flexibility, strength and aerobic power at the start and end.
All those who took part in the study improved their overall health and performance over the 12-week trial, no matter when they exercised.
"The best time for exercise is the best time you can do it and fit it into your schedule," says Dr Paul Arcerio, lead study author and professor of health and human physiological sciences at Skidmore College, New York state.
But he suggests there is "something else going on" which may mean the ideal time of day to exercise is different for women and men.
Exercise is good for you whenever you do it, but the time of day to achieve the best result may be different for women and men, according to a US study.
It found women burned more body fat during morning exercise, whereas evenings counted more for men.
Much of what is known on this topic is based on studies on men, the researchers say.
Differences in hormones, in biological clocks and sleep-wake cycles between the sexes, could all play a role.
The study of 30 men and 26 women - all active and healthy, and between 25 and 55 years old - lasted 12 weeks and monitored the effects of a varied fitness programme, which included stretching, sprint, resistance and endurance training.
One group exercised for an hour before 08:30 while the other group followed the same activities in the evening, between 18:00 and 20:00. All participants followed a specially-designed meal plan.
The researchers tested everyone's blood pressure and body fat over the course of the study, as well as their flexibility, strength and aerobic power at the start and end.
All those who took part in the study improved their overall health and performance over the 12-week trial, no matter when they exercised.
"The best time for exercise is the best time you can do it and fit it into your schedule," says Dr Paul Arcerio, lead study author and professor of health and human physiological sciences at Skidmore College, New York state.
But he suggests there is "something else going on" which may mean the ideal time of day to exercise is different for women and men.
