Timing and Resistance Exercise: Impact on Eating and Metabolism

Exercise timing (morning or evening) for optimal weight control is a research topic urgently addressed by scholars in the relevant field. Due to the better control of energy metabolism and physical activity levels in the morning, existing research on resistance exercise and eating behavior primarily focuses on experiments conducted in the morning, with only one study in the afternoon. No research has yet compared the potential differences between morning and evening resistance exercise. A one-year study aims to investigate the impact of morning and evening resistance exercise on physiological metabolism and eating behavior. Eighteen healthy male participants will be randomly assigned to a crossover design study, including AM exercise, PM exercise, and control (rest condition) trials. Variables including subjective appetite, appetite hormones (ghrelin, peptide YY), food preferences, ad libitum eating, dietary records, energy expenditure, and PBMCs circadian rhythm genes will be measured. This preliminary study through a multidimensional observation, the results will contribute to understanding the potential differences and mechanisms of morning and evening resistance exercise on physiological metabolism and eating behavior. In practical applications, conducting resistance exercise in the evening or at night aligns better with current lifestyles. The findings of this study can support the optimization of exercise benefits by validating the choice of exercise timing.