Does Timing of Exercise Matter?
Large study shows relationship between exercise timing and lower mortality risks.
People are interested in the health effects of the timing of exercise, eating, sleeping and light exposure. Analysis of data from over 92,000 participants in the UK Biobank found that any time of day that you do moderate to vigorous physical activity is linked with lower risks of all causes of death, including heart disease and cancer risks.
When different times of day for training are compared, adults who train between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. or adults who train at different times of day (not always at the same time) are more likely to have lower risks for all causes of death than people who train only in the mornings from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. or in the evenings between 5 p.m. and midnight. These associations are more evident among the elderly, men, less physically active people or those with pre-existing heart diseases. The research on timing of exercise is reported in Nature Communications (2023; doi:10.1038/s41467-023-36546-5).
See also: What’s the Best Time to Exercise?
Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA
Shirley Archer, JD, MA, is an internationally acknowledged integrative health and mindfulness specialist, best-selling author of 16 fitness and wellness books translated into multiple languages and sold worldwide, award-winning health journalist, contributing editor to Fitness Journal, media spokesperson, and IDEA's 2008 Fitness Instructor of the Year. She's a 25-year industry veteran and former health and fitness educator at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, who has served on multiple industry committees and co-authored trade books and manuals for ACE, ACSM and YMCA of the USA. She has appeared on TV worldwide and was a featured trainer on America's Next Top Model.
