A recent study published in the BCS-BMJ owned Open Heart journal, showed that exercising according to your body clock chronotype lowers risk factors of cardiovascular disease more effectively. Our colleagues at the BMJ have issued a press release on the study.
Dr Rajiv Sankaranarayanan, Vice-President of Digital, Communications and Marketing for the British Cardiovascular Society, commented: “It would be interesting to see the study replicated in the UK – would we see a surge in late gym sessions for night owls? From a UK perspective, this study’s findings are highly relevant to preventive cardiology within the NHS, where scalable, cost-effective interventions are essential. Incorporating simple chronotype assessment into lifestyle advice could enhance adherence and outcomes, particularly in patients with hypertension or cardiometabolic risk.
“However, before widespread implementation, validation in more diverse, real-world UK populations (including shift workers and multi-ethnic cohorts), is needed. Overall, this study supports a shift toward more personalised, circadian-informed exercise prescriptions in routine cardiovascular care.”
Full title: Chronotype-aligned exercise timing in middle-aged adults at cardiometabolic risk: a randomised controlled trial