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Study Finds Bigger Exercise Gains When You Train to Your Body Clock

The authors propose a quick 19‑question quiz to set workout times by chronotype.

Overview

  • Participants completed supervised 40‑minute treadmill walks five days a week for 12 weeks, and those who trained at their preferred time of day saw larger drops in blood pressure and bigger fitness gains.
  • They also showed better metabolic markers and reported better sleep, with effects described as strongest in people with high blood pressure.
  • To help tailor timing, the team points to the Horne–Östberg quiz, a 19‑question, five‑minute tool that sorts people by morning‑ or evening‑type body clocks.
  • News reports disagree on key details, with some citing publication in Open Heart and 134 participants and others citing BMJ and 150, so the findings should be viewed as early.
  • Cardiac and circadian specialists welcomed the idea yet called for larger confirmatory trials and reminded readers that doing regular exercise remains the top priority.