Overview
- Researchers analyzing minute-by-minute Fitbit data from roughly 14,000 to 14,500 consented participants found that people who exercised in the morning had lower odds of obesity, coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
- Exercise between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. was tied to the lowest odds of coronary artery disease, with reported differences that included about 31% lower odds for that condition.
- The associations held after accounting for total physical activity, which suggests timing may add a separate effect beyond how much people move.
- The work is observational and not yet peer-reviewed, and the team will present the results at the American College of Cardiology’s annual meeting while urging randomized trials to test causation.
- Experts pointed to possible reasons such as body clock rhythms, higher morning insulin sensitivity, and fasted-state fat use, while stressing that any regular exercise remains beneficial.