Timing of physical activity in the pursuit of fat mass loss and weight maintenance

Abstract

Obesity is a significant global burden for individuals and healthcare systems with its array of associated chronic cardiometabolic diseases. While lifestyle modifications such as dietary interventions and increased physical activity are effective in weight management, recent investigations highlight the critical role of timing these interventions in accordance with our body's circadian clock. Over the past decade, multiple studies and meta analyses have investigated how the timing of exercise training influences white adipose tissue (WAT) biology, fat mass loss, and obesity, but physical activity guidelines have not yet adopted a recommendation for exercise timing due to conflicting conclusions. This review aims to summarize the latest findings in this field and touches upon contributing factors such as sex disparities and nutrition timing.