There May Be an Optimal Time of Day For Exercise, But It's Not The Same For Everybody
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The article by Science Alert explains the study published by Frontiers in Physiology. The study gave 27 healthy and active women and 20 healthy and active men a 12-week long strict diet and training program. Half the group was instructed to exercise for one hour, in the morning, before breakfast, and the other half was told to exercise in the evening before dinner. Researchers then tracked the metabolic activity of both groups to find the best time of day for exercise. The data showed that women who exercised in the morning “burned 7 percent more abdominal fat and reduced their blood pressure by 7 percent more than women who exercised in the evening. The morning routine also resulted in greater leg strength.” (www.sciencealert.com) In contrast, women who exercised in the evening “showed greater gains in their upper body strength, their mood, and their food cravings. What's more, muscle power improved by 29 percent and endurance improved by 15 percent compared to morning exercises.” (www.sciencealert.com) The study also showed that men who trained in the evening had "slightly lower blood pressure and increased fat oxidation compared to morning exercise. Evening training also improved fatigue by 55 percent.” (www.sciencealert.com). This data showed how different circadian rhythms in men and women influence their response to exercise.
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I believe that this research is helpful as it could allow athletes to gain more out of their training by simply changing the times they exercise. However, I do not think this information is relevant to most of the population, as most people can only exercise when they are not busy with other parts of life. Although factors such as “certain peaks and pits in hormonal levels, metabolism and neuromuscular factors could, theoretically, influence a person's muscle strength, their cardiovascular system, their body composition and their physical performance.” (www.sciencealert.com) I believe that the results of exercise are dependent on more factors than simply gender and bodily functions. To me, exercise is about understanding your body and honouring its needs; thus, scientific data should not determine or push anyone to exercise when they do not want to only because it is scientifically more effective.
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There May Be an Optimal Time of Day For Exercise, But It's Not The Same For Everybody
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