The time of day that you exercise may increase your body's ability to burn fat.
Researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the University of
Copenhagen in Denmark recently published results from a study involving mice in the journal PNAS. Mice were used because they share many basic physiological functions as humans. Mice, however, are nocturnal.
The biological processes in our bodies depend on the circadian rhythms of the cells so physical activity performed at different times of the day affects the burning of fat.
According to the study findings, physical activity performed in the late morning increased the expression of genes involved in the breakdown of body fat, heat production and mitochondria in the body fat, which included a higher metabolic rate. The fat burning effects were independent of food intake.
Researchers acknowledge that more studies are needed in order to make more definitive conclusions but believe that the study results show that exercising at certain times of day is important when trying to lose weight.
