• EXPLORE FURTHER: Fitness professionals share their insights on the optimal time for exercise.

The eternal question remains: When is the optimal time of day to exercise?

However, a fascinating recent study appears to have addressed this issue.

A study conducted by researchers in Spain revealed that individuals who engaged in physical activities such as jogging, biking, or similar exercises at 6 PM experienced reduced blood glucose levels compared to those who worked out earlier in the day.

The researchers contended that this indicated late exercisers exhibited greater activity metabolism and found it easier to withstand hunger cravings.

This indicated that they would both expend more calories throughout the day and take in less energy, they proposed.

Research indicates that typically, muscle cells tend to lose their ability to take up blood glucose during late hours, as insulin levels decline at this time.

However, working out in the evening increases insulin levels, which helps cells take up glucose from the blood more efficiently and use it as fuel.

In this study, researchers monitored 186 middle-aged Spaniards, primarily those who were overweight, over a period of two weeks.

Every participant utilized an accelerometer for monitoring physical activity and a continuous glucose monitor to track their blood sugar levels.

The exercise periods were divided into three segments: morning from 6 am to 12 pm, afternoon from 12 pm to 6 pm, or evening from 6 pm to 12 am.

The researchers subsequently contrasted blood glucose levels between inactive subjects, who abstained from physical activity for 24 hours, and those who engaged in exercises at various intervals.

Dr. Antonio Clavero-Jimenez, a sports scientist at the University of Granada, Spain , among others noted in the study: 'Engaging in exercise during the evening seems to positively impact blood glucose levels in inactive adults who are obese.'

The research was conducted solely among individuals who were obese or overweight, suggesting that the findings may not be applicable to people with a healthy weight.

However, this aligns with previous research indicating that working out later in the day is most effective for shedding pounds.

A research conducted at the University of Sydney, Australia, revealed that overweight individuals engaging in physical activity after 6 pm exhibited roughly a 36 percent decreased likelihood of developing heart disease.

Of those who exercised prior to this period, the advantage was only half as much—equivalent to being 17 percent less likely to develop the condition.

A study from Germany published in 2022 and conducted with 5,000 individuals who were either overweight or obese discovered that participants exercising in the evenings experienced up to a 25 percent decrease in insulin resistance.

Several weight loss studies indicate that exercising early in the morning may be most effective for shedding pounds.

These findings are derived from data indicating that individuals who work out during these hours typically maintain a lower body weight compared to those who exercise in the evening.

However, these aspects do not consider other variables, like individuals who are more health-conscious might be inclined to begin their day with an exercise routine.

Doctors state that any level of physical activity at any point during the day can lead to weight loss in individuals who are overweight, provided they do not consume more calories than their body requires.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), individuals should aim for at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week.

Read more