BACKGROUND: Exercising at a consistent versus variable time of day cross-sectionally relates to greater moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among weight loss maintainers. This study evaluated the relationships between exercise timing and both MVPA levels and habit strength, as well as stability in exercise timing, over 1 year among maintainers in the National Weight Control Registry. METHODS: Participants (n = 709) completed questionnaires assessing exercise timing, MVPA, and exercise automaticity (a measure of habit) at baseline and 1-year follow-up. At each assessment, participants were labeled temporally consistent exercisers if >50% of their exercise sessions per week occurred in one time window: early morning, late morning, afternoon, or evening. Participants exercising consistently during the same window at both assessments were labeled as having stable patterns. RESULTS: Temporally consistent exercise at baseline, regardless of its specific time, related to greater MVPA over time (Ps< .05). Approximately half of temporally consistent exercisers at baseline exhibited stable patterns. Early morning exercise and greater exercise automaticity at baseline predicted stable patterns (Ps< .005). Temporally consistent exercise, especially during the early morning, related to greater automaticity across time (Ps< .01). CONCLUSIONS: Consistent exercise timing may help maintainers accrue more MVPA. Consistent early morning exercise was most strongly related to exercise automaticity and routine stability.
BACKGROUND: Exercising at a consistent versus variable time of day cross-sectionally relates to greater moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among weight loss maintainers. This study evaluated the relationships between exercise timing and both MVPA levels and habit strength, as well as stability in exercise timing, over 1 year among maintainers in the National Weight Control Registry. METHODS: Participants (n = 709) completed questionnaires assessing exercise timing, MVPA, and exercise automaticity (a measure of habit) at baseline and 1-year follow-up. At each assessment, participants were labeled temporally consistent exercisers if >50% of their exercise sessions per week occurred in one time window: early morning, late morning, afternoon, or evening. Participants exercising consistently during the same window at both assessments were labeled as having stable patterns. RESULTS: Temporally consistent exercise at baseline, regardless of its specific time, related to greater MVPA over time (Ps< .05). Approximately half of temporally consistent exercisers at baseline exhibited stable patterns. Early morning exercise and greater exercise automaticity at baseline predicted stable patterns (Ps< .005). Temporally consistent exercise, especially during the early morning, related to greater automaticity across time (Ps< .01). CONCLUSIONS: Consistent exercise timing may help maintainers accrue more MVPA. Consistent early morning exercise was most strongly related to exercise automaticity and routine stability.
Authors: Dale S Bond; Hollie A Raynor; J Graham Thomas; Jessica Unick; Jennifer Webster; Beth Ryder; Sivamainthan Vithiananthan Journal: J Phys Act Health Date: 2017-03-02
Authors: J Matthew Thomas; Philip A Kern; Heather M Bush; Kristen J McQuerry; W Scott Black; Jody L Clasey; Julie S Pendergast Journal: JCI Insight Date: 2020-02-13
Authors: Catarina Paixão; Carlos M Dias; Rui Jorge; Eliana V Carraça; Mary Yannakoulia; Martina de Zwaan; Sirpa Soini; James O Hill; Pedro J Teixeira; Inês Santos Journal: Obes Rev Date: 2020-02-12 Impact factor: 10.867
Authors: Tuija Leskinen; Sari Stenholm; Anna Pulakka; Jaana Pentti; Mika Kivimäki; Jussi Vahtera Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2020-02-16 Impact factor: 2.692