The researchers found that people who exercised at 6 p.m. experienced lower blood sugar levels compared to those who exercised in the morning, according to the British newspaper Daily Mail.
The study showed that those who exercised in the evening had a more active metabolism and were better able to resist hunger pains. This led them to burn more calories throughout the day and use less energy.
Typically, muscle cells become less effective at absorbing blood sugar in the evening due to lower insulin levels. However, evening exercise boosts insulin levels, making it easier for cells to absorb blood sugar from the bloodstream and burn it for energy.
The researchers tracked 186 Spanish adults, most of whom were obese, over a two-week period. Each participant wore an accelerometer to monitor their physical activity, and a continuous glucose monitor to track blood sugar levels.
The exercise times were divided into morning (6 a.m. to 12 p.m.), afternoon (12 p.m. to 6 p.m.), and evening (6 p.m. to midnight).
Researchers then compared blood sugar levels between participants who didn’t exercise on certain days and those who exercised at different times.
Dr. Antonio Clavero Gimeno, a sports scientist at the University of Granada in Spain, and others involved in the study wrote: "It seems that evening exercise has a beneficial effect on blood sugar for sedentary adults with obesity."
The study only included people who were overweight or obese, so it’s unclear if the findings apply to individuals with a healthy weight.