Impact of lifestyle moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity timing on glycemic control in sedentary adults with overweight/obesity and metabolic impairments

Objective Moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) improves glucose levels; however, whether its timing affects daily glycemic control remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the impact of lifestyle MVPA timing on daily glycemic control in sedentary adults with overweight/obesity and metabolic impairments. Methods A total of 186 adults (50% women; age, 46.8 [SD 6.2] years) with overweight/obesity (BMI, 32.9 [SD 3.5] kg/m2) and at least one metabolic impairment participated in this cross‐sectional study. MVPA and glucose patterns were simultaneously monitored over a 14‐day period using a triaxial accelerometer worn on the nondominant wrist and a continuous glucose‐monitoring device, respectively. Each day was classified as “inactive” if no MVPA was accumulated; as “morning,” “afternoon,” or “evening” if >50% of the MVPA minutes for that day were accumulated between 0600 and 1200, 1200 and 1800, or 1800 and 0000 hours, respectively; or as “mixed” if none of the defined time windows accounted for >50% of the MVPA for that day. Results Accumulating >50% of total MVPA during the evening was associated with lower 24‐h (mean difference [95% CI], −1.26 mg/dL [95% CI: −2.2 to −0.4]), diurnal (−1.10 mg/dL [95% CI: −2.0 to −0.2]), and nocturnal mean glucose levels (−2.16 mg/dL [95% CI: −3.5 to −0.8]) compared with being inactive. This association was stronger in those participants with impaired glucose regulation. The pattern of these associations was similar in both men and women. Conclusions These findings suggest that timing of lifestyle MVPA is significant. Specifically, accumulating more MVPA during the evening appears to have a beneficial effect on glucose homeostasis in sedentary adults with overweight/obesity and metabolic impairments.