Exercise & Fitness
Early morning exercise may be the best time for weight loss
In the journals
- Reviewed by Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Is there a "best" time to exercise? The question is still being debated, but an observational study suggests that early morning may be ideal when it comes to weight management.
Researchers reviewed data from the CDC's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The survey recorded the activity levels of 5,285 participants and what times of day they exercised: morning, midday, and evening.
Among people who met the recommended guidelines of 150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous activity, those who consistently engaged in morning activity (usually between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.) had a lower risk for obesity than those who were most active in the midday or evening.
Specifically, the morning group had a lower average body mass index and waist size than the other two groups. The findings were published online Sept. 4, 2023, by Obesity.
Image: © Oli Kellett/Getty Images
About the Author
Matthew Solan, Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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