Study: Physical activity in the evening lowers blood sugar levels

ROCKVILLE, Md.— New research reveals that moderate to vigorous physical activity in the evening for sedentary adults with overweight and obesity is most beneficial in lowering daily blood sugar levels, according to a study published in Obesity, The Obesity Society’s (TOS) flagship journal.

Experts explain that it has been well established that moderate to vigorous physical activity enhances glucose homeostasis in adults with overweight and obesity who are at higher risk of developing insulin resistance. However, little is known about the optimal timing of moderate to vigorous physical activity to improve daily blood glucose control.

“Our results highlight the importance of the field of precision exercise prescription. In clinical practice, certified sports and medical personnel should consider the optimal timing of the day to enhance the effectiveness of the exercise and physical activity programs they prescribe,” said Jonatan R. Ruiz, PhD, professor of physical activity and health, Department of Physical and Sports Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences-Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), University of Granada, ibs.Granada and CIBEROBN, Spain. Ruiz is one of two corresponding authors of the study with predoctoral researcher Antonio Clavero-Jimeno from the same research center.

Data for the study was used from baseline examinations from a multi-center randomized controlled trial conducted in Granada and Pamplona, Spain. The aim of the trial was to study the efficacy and feasibility of time-restricted eating on visceral adipose tissue (primary outcome), body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors in adults with overweight and obesity.

A total of 186 adults with an average age of 46 years and a body mass index of 32.9 kg/m² with overweight or obesity participated in the cross-sectional study. The physical activity and glucose patterns of participants were simultaneously monitored over a 14-day period using a triaxial accelerometer worn on the non-dominant wrist and a continuous glucose-monitoring device.

The study’s researchers classified the volume of moderate to vigorous physical activity accumulated for each day. Categories included inactive (if no activity was accumulated), and as ‘morning,’ ‘afternoon’ or ‘evening’ if more than 50% of the moderate to vigorous physical activity minutes for that day were accumulated between 6 a.m. to noon, noon to 6 p.m., 6 p.m. to 12 p.m., or as ‘mixed’ if none of the defined time windows accounted for greater than 50% of the moderate to vigorous physical activity for that day.

Results showed that accumulating greater than 50% of moderate to vigorous physical activity in the evening was associated with lowering day, night and overall blood glucose levels compared with being inactive. This association was stronger in those participants with impaired glucose regulation. The pattern of these associations was similar in both men and women.

“As the field moves towards individualized exercise prescriptions for different chronic conditions, this study now provides additional insights beyond just telling patients to ‘move more,’ but instead to move as often as possible and to prioritize afternoon-to-evening movement when feasible for glucose regulation,” said Renee J. Rogers, PhD, FACSM, senior scientist, Division of Physical Activity and Weight Management, University of Kansas Medical Center. Rogers was not associated with the research.

Other authors of the study include Manuel Dote-Montero, Jairo H. Migueles, Alba Camacho-Cardenosa, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), University of Granada, Spain; Maddi Oses, Jon Echarte Medina, Juan M.A. Alcantara, Idoia Labayen, Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Sustainability & Food Chain Innovation, Public University of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain. Oses, Medina, Alcantara and Labayen are also with the Navarra Institute for Health Research (ldiSNA), Pamplona, Spain. Alcantara and Labayen are also with the Center for Biomedical Research Network Pathophysiology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain. Manuel Muñoz-Torres is with ibs.GRANADA Biosanitary Research Institute, Granada, Spain; Endocrinology and Nutrition Unit, University Hospital San Cecilio Clinic, Granada, Spain; Department of Medicine, University of Granada, Spain; and CIBER on Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES) and Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

The study, titled “Impact of Lifestyle Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity Timing on Glycemic Control in Sedentary Adults with Overweight/Obesity and Metabolic Impairments” will be published later this year in the journal Obesity.

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The Obesity Society (TOS) is the leading organization of scientists and health professionals devoted to understanding and reversing the epidemic of obesity and its adverse health, economic and societal effects. Combining the perspective of researchers, clinicians, policymakers and patients, TOS promotes innovative research, education and evidence-based clinical care to improve the health and well-being of all people with obesity. For more information, visit www.obesity.org.