Observational studyInternational journal of obesity (2005)2025
Diurnal timing of physical activity in relation to obesity and diabetes in the German National Cohort (NAKO).
Observational study in International journal of obesity (2005), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Exercise Timing in Sport: Molecular and Physiological Mechanisms Linking Performance, Recovery, and Biological Cost.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Reallocating morning physical activity to later-day activity and its association with type 2 diabetes incidence: The Maastricht Study.Diabetes, obesity & metabolism · 2026Article
- Physical activity and meal timing alignment with chronotype and their associations with glucose metabolism: The Maastricht Study.Diabetes, obesity & metabolism · 2026Article
- Rationale and protocol for the Time to Move Randomized Crossover Trial: morning versus evening time physical activity and CGM-assessed glucose levels in individuals with pregnancy hyperglycemia.Frontiers in clinical diabetes and healthcare · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
34 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPhysical activity supports weight regulation and metabolic health, but its timing in relation to obesity and diabetes remains unclear. We aimed to assess the diurnal timing of physical activity and its association with obesity and diabetes.
methodsWe cross-sectionally analyzed hip-worn accelerometry data from 61,116 participants aged 20-75 in the German National Cohort between 2015 and 2019. We divided physical activity into sex- and age-standardized quartiles of total morning (06:00-11:59), afternoon (12:00-17:59), evening (18:00-23:59), and nighttime (00:00-06:00) physical activity. Using multivariable logistic regression, we estimated associations of physical activity timing with obesity (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m
resultsHigh afternoon (top vs. bottom quartile, OR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.33-0.38) and evening physical activity (OR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.42-0.48) showed lower obesity odds than high morning activity (OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.66-0.76), whereas nighttime activity increased obesity odds (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.48-1.68). Associations were similar for diabetes, with the lowest odds for afternoon (OR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.42-0.53), followed by evening (OR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.50-0.62) and morning activity (OR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.71-0.89), and higher odds for nighttime activity (OR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.29-1.58). Findings were not modified by employment status, night shift work, and sleep duration.
conclusionsOur cross-sectional findings require longitudinal corroboration but suggest afternoon and evening activity provide greater metabolic health benefits than morning activity, while nighttime activity is discouraged.
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