Exercise before b’fast burns more fat

Hitting the gym before sitting at the breakfast table is good for your body, according to a new study.

For six weeks, scientists in the UK tracked the weight-loss progress of 30 overweight and obese men. They found that men who worked out before eating their first meal of the day “burned double the amount of fat” compared with the group who exercised after breakfast, according to Dr. Javier Gonzalez of the University of Bath.

“Our results suggest that changing the timing of when you eat, in relation to when you exercise, can bring about profound and positive changes to your overall health,” Gonzalez said.

Scientists at the universities of Birmingham and Bath credited the uptick in fat burning to the body’s insulin levels, which are lower in the morning. Having fasted during sleep, bodies resort to using fat already stored in tissues for energy, rather than turning to food just consumed.

Moreover, the group who broke a sweat first thing in the morning were better off as the day went on: Their muscles responded more sensitively to insulin, and showed an increase in proteins that help regulate glucose in the bloodstream. In the end, those who worked out after breakfast exhibited similar insulin responses to the control group — so their workouts were ineffective in that sense.

While this difference did not noticeably impact weight loss during the study period, the study authors think their findings reveal “profound and positive” health effects by helping keep blood sugar in check, warding against diabetes and heart disease.

“This work suggests that performing exercise in the overnightfasted state can increase the health benefits of exercise for individuals, without changing the intensity, duration or perception of their effort,” said study coauthor Dr. Gareth Wallis of the University of Birmingham.

“We now need to explore the longer-term effects of this type of exercise and whether women benefit in the same way as men.”