Afternoon exercise was associated with greater fat loss than morning exercise in overweight/obese adults: an exploratory study of PER3 rs228697 genotype matching
Larger, well-controlled studies with objective circadian phenotyping are needed to clarify the potential role of genotype-informed exercise timing in personalized weight management and do not support strong conclusions regarding genotype-based exercise-time matching based on PER3 rs228697 alone.
Abstract
Objective Exercise timing may influence metabolic responses and body composition, but the extent to which circadian genetic variation contributes remains unclear. The PER3 rs228697 polymorphism has been linked to chronotype-related traits, although its relevance to exercise timing remains uncertain. This exploratory study examined whether body-composition responses to morning versus afternoon moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) differed according to PER3 rs228697 genotype in overweight/obese university students. Methods In this 8-week supervised intervention, 31 overweight/obese university students performed MICT in the morning (7:00–10:00) or afternoon (16:00–19:00). Participants with the CC genotype were allocated to a morning training group (CC-AM) or an afternoon training group (CC-PM), and G-allele carriers were included in an afternoon group (G-PM). Body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, body fat percentage, total fat mass, and regional fat mass were assessed before and after the intervention. Circadian preference, physical activity, sleep quality, and fatigue were also evaluated. Because the G-PM subgroup was very small, findings for this subgroup were treated as exploratory. Results Across the overall sample, body weight, BMI, waist circumference, body fat percentage, and total fat mass decreased over the 8-week intervention. In descriptive subgroup analyses, the CC-PM group showed larger reductions in several body-composition outcomes, including body weight, BMI, waist circumference, body fat percentage, and total fat mass, than the CC-AM group. A similar pattern was observed for several regional fat measures, particularly trunk, android, and gynoid fat mass. By contrast, findings for G-allele carriers were difficult to interpret because of the very small subgroup size. Estimated between-group differences were generally modest and imprecise, and behavioral chronotype did not clearly correspond with PER3 genotype. Conclusions In this exploratory sample of overweight/obese university students, 8 weeks of MICT was associated with favorable changes in several body-composition outcomes. Among CC genotype carriers, afternoon training was associated with descriptively greater improvements than morning training; however, the estimates were imprecise and do not support strong conclusions regarding genotype-based exercise-time matching based on PER3 rs228697 alone. Larger, well-controlled studies with objective circadian phenotyping are needed to clarify the potential role of genotype-informed exercise timing in personalized weight management.
Background/Objectives: Mat Pilates is widely recommended for middle-aged women, but whether baseline obesity modifies its effects remains unclear. This study compared responses to a 12-week mat Pilates programme between non-obese and obese middle-aged women across body-composition, cardiovascular, blood-metabolic, haemorheological and autonomic endpoints. Methods: In an exploratory secondary analysis of a completed, uncontrolled single-arm intervention cohort, de-identified pre- and post-intervention data from 32 premenopausal women (47.5 ± 7.6 years) were stratified by BMI into non-obese (NOG; <25 kg/m2; n = 14) and obese (OG; ≥25 kg/m2; n = 18) groups using WHO Asia-Pacific criteria. All completed identical 60 min sessions three times weekly for 12 weeks, with intensity progressed every four weeks. Outcomes were analysed with mixed-design ANOVA and Bonferroni-corrected paired t-tests. Results: Group × time interactions were significant for body weight, fat mass and percent body fat (p < 0.05). Flow-mediated dilation rose in both groups (NOG +15.6%, OG +29.7%; p < 0.05). Group × time interactions were non-significant for blood pressure, lipids and haemorheology; obesity-dependent claims are therefore restricted to the outcomes with significant interactions (body weight, fat mass, percent body fat). For the remaining outcomes, within-group changes reached significance only in the OG (total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, aggregation index, critical shear stress) or only in the NOG (diastolic and mean arterial pressure) but did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusions: Following the programme, endothelial function improved in both groups, whereas body-composition responses differed significantly by obesity status. Because this uncontrolled secondary analysis lacked a non-exercising control group, these associations cannot be attributed causally to mat Pilates. The apparent BMI dependence was not reproduced when adiposity was modelled continuously (baseline BMI, percent body fat or fat mass), so all between-group contrasts are hypothesis-generating. Adequately powered randomised controlled trials with a non-exercising comparator and objective monitoring of diet, non-exercise activity, sleep and menstrual-cycle phase are needed before BMI-dependent adaptations to mat Pilates can be considered established.
Won-sang Jung, Won-Je Kim, Eunjoo Lee et al.· Metabolites· 0 citations
It is demonstrated that endurance exercise performance is enhanced in the evening compared with the morning and suggested that behavioural markers of circadian phenotype are associated with the magnitude of diurnal variation in performance.
A. Singh, Sanjida Ahmed, S. Hesketh· European Journal of Applied...· 0 citations
Few studies have examined exercise interventions in oldest-old women—that is, women aged 85 years and older—despite their high risk of experiencing functional decline and metabolic dysregulation. Thus, the present study investigated the effects of low-intensity aerobic and resistance training on functional fitness and selected metabolic biomarkers in this population.
This randomized controlled trial included women aged 85 years and older who were assigned to a control group (CG), an aerobic exercise group (AEG), or a resistance exercise group (REG). Both exercise groups completed 24 weeks of low-intensity training. Functional outcomes included handgrip strength, 30-s chair stand, 30-s arm curl, and 2-min step performance. Biological outcomes included adiponectin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fasting insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and glucose. Intervention effects were evaluated using mixed-effects repeated-measures analyses including group, time, and group × time interaction.
Handgrip strength showed a significant group × time interaction, with a significant increase observed only in REG. Both exercise groups showed significant improvements in 30-s chair-stand, 30-s arm curl, and 2-min step performance relative to CG. Adiponectin increased significantly in both exercise groups, with the largest increase in REG. Fasting insulin and glucose were significantly lower in AEG and REG than in CG at 24 weeks, whereas hs-CRP and HOMA-IR did not show significant intervention effects.
Low-intensity aerobic and resistance training was found to improve multiple domains of functional fitness in oldest-old women. Favorable changes were also observed in selected metabolic biomarkers, including adiponectin, fasting insulin, and glucose. These functional and biomarker outcomes should be interpreted as parallel responses to the intervention rather than evidence of a direct relationship between functional improvements and biomarker changes. Low-intensity exercise may represent a feasible strategy for supporting functional capacity in women of very advanced age.
Sung-Wook Chun, Eun Jung Kim, N. An· European Review of Aging and...· 0 citations
Background/Objectives: Identifying accessible and effective exercise interventions is essential for improving health and physical fitness in individuals with overweight or obesity. Whole-body high-intensity interval training (WB-HIIT) is a time-efficient approach that requires minimal equipment and can be adapted to a wide range of settings and fitness levels. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of WB-HIIT on cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal fitness, body composition, and metabolic health markers. Methods: Thirty-six healthy adults with overweight were assigned to either a WB-HIIT group (n = 19; 35 ± 9 years; BMI 30.2 ± 3.1 kg/m2) or a control group (n = 17; 33 ± 11 years; BMI 30.3 ± 3.3 kg/m2). Participants completed pre- and post-intervention assessments including dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), blood sampling, maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and measures of muscular strength (3 RM) and functional endurance (1 min sit-to-stand and arm curl). The 10-week supervised WB-HIIT (2–3 sessions per week) included a warm-up, 3–4 sets of 10–12 all-out whole-body exercises (30–40 s) interspersed with 20–30 s recovery, and a cool-down. Results: The control group showed no significant changes in any of the assessed parameters after 10 weeks, except for a modest increase in body fat mass. The WB-HIIT group showed significant improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, evidenced by increases in VO2peak (p < 0.05), maximal treadmill incline (p < 0.01), and first ventilatory threshold parameters (p < 0.05). Maximal strength increased significantly in both the leg and bench press (p < 0.001), accompanied by a significant improvement in upper-limb functional endurance (arm curl, p < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in body weight or BMI, but small reductions were found in body fat percentage, trunk fat mass, and waist circumference (p < 0.05). Except for a modest decrease in glycated hemoglobin (p < 0.05), metabolic blood parameters remained unchanged and were already within the normal range at baseline. Conclusions: A 10-week WB-HIIT intervention improved cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, and upper-limb functional endurance, and elicited a modest reduction in trunk fat mass in individuals with overweight or obesity.
J. Carpentier, B. Celie, Séverine Stragier et al.· Healthcare· 0 citations
Adolescence is a critical phase characterized by temporary insulin resistance and a tendency for a later chronotype, potentially influencing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) later in life. This study explores how morning and evening carbohydrate (CHO) intake during adolescence are prospectively related to T2D risk factors—such as insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR), liver fat indices, and subclinical inflammation— in adulthood while considering the role of chronotype. This analysis utilizes data from 224 DONALD study participants (58% female) who provided 3-day weighed dietary records during adolescence (median age = 12 years) and a blood sample in adulthood (median age = 22 years). Owing to detected interactions between the timing of CHO intake i.e. CHOevening(E%)–CHOmorning(E%), (eveningness in CHO intake) and chronotype, analyses were stratified accordingly. An inverse relationship was found between morning CHO intake (before 11 a.m.) and adult HOMA2-IR levels (beta and 95% CI for high (T3) vs. low (T1): −0.12 (−0.21; −0.04), ptrend = 0.01). For individuals with an earlier chronotype, a higher "eveningness in CHO intake" was linked to higher HOMA2-IR (ptrend = 0.03). Conversely, those with a later chronotype exhibited the lowest HOMA2-IR in the median "eveningness in CHO intake" category (T2). No significant associations were observed between evening CHO intake and other risk markers. Consuming CHOs in the morning during adolescence is associated with lower HOMA2-IR in adulthood, irrespective of chronotype. However, the favorable morning CHO intake amount appears to vary by chronotype, indicating a personalized approach may be beneficial.
N. Jankovic, Sarah Schmitting, I. Perrar et al.· European Journal of Nutritio...· 0 citations
Background Overweight and obesity have become increasingly prevalent among female university students, whereas conventional exercise interventions are often limited by poor adherence and time constraints. Exercise snacks (ES) may offer a flexible and time-efficient alternative; however, their effectiveness in this population remains unclear. Objective We compared the effects of 8 weeks of ES (75 min/week) and HIIT on body composition, cardiometabolic health, cardiorespiratory fitness, and lower-body explosive power in overweight and obese females in a real-world setting. Methods Thirty overweight and obese female university students were randomized to either the ES group or the high-intensity interval training (HIIT) group in an 8-week randomized controlled trial. Both groups completed 75 min of bodyweight exercise per week. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included body composition, cardiometabolic health, cardiorespiratory fitness, and lower-body explosive power. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze training effects, with Bonferroni post hoc tests. Effect sizes were reported as partial eta squared ( ηp2 ) or Cohen’s d, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results Compared with the HIIT group, the ES group showed significantly lower RPE throughout the intervention period (p < 0.05). Significant time effects were observed for body weight (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.59), BMI (p < 0.001, ηp2 0.60), body fat percentage (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.46), standing long jump performance (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.43), V̇O2max (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.47), SBP (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.54), TC (p = 0.004, ηp2 = 0.26), and LDL-C (p = 0.002, ηp2 = 0.30). A significant time × group interaction was observed for DBP (p = 0.02, ηp2 = 0.19), with a significant reduction in the HIIT group (p = 0.002, d = 0.86) but not in the ES group (p = 0.86, d = −0.04). No significant time effects were observed for TG (p = 0.96) or HDL-C (p = 0.10). Weekly mean RPE was significantly lower in the ES group than in the HIIT group throughout the intervention period. Conclusion In conclusion, in a real-world remote setting, 75 min/week of bodyweight-based ES may be a promising strategy that warrants confirmation in adequately powered randomized controlled trials.
Nai-Jing Jin, Xin Zheng, Ziren Zhao et al.· Frontiers in Public Health· 0 citations
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