Diabetes Care: evening physical activity is good for the heart

Researchers from the Charles Perkins Centre (an Australian medical and research centre) have found that evening physical activity (between 6pm and midnight) is better for maintaining heart health in obese people compared to exercising at other times. The results of the study are published in the journal Diabetes Care.

The study involved 29,836 obese adults over the age of 40. Among all volunteers, nearly three thousand were also diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The participants were divided into morning, afternoon and evening exercise groups, depending on which time of day accounted for the greater amount of their daily activity (specifically aerobic exercise).

During the observation period, it was found that people who exercised after 6pm in short intervals (alternating between high- and low-intensity exercise) had a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease and acute conditions such as stroke.

According to the scientists, this important benefit of evening exercise is due to improved insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes. High insulin sensitivity allows the body's cells to utilise glucose more efficiently, which lowers blood sugar levels, prevents pathological changes in blood vessels and protects against heart disease.

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