Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) -If you are one of those people who hates setting an alarm an hour before going to the gym, scientists may get some good news.

A study published this year shows that afternoon exercise leads to better results for some.

In the study, participants who looked at men at risk or were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes found that those who exercised in the afternoon experienced higher metabolic benefits, as well as those who experienced more positive effects on exercise performance and fat mass compared to those who exercised in the morning. .

Researchers say it is not clear exactly why afternoon training yields the best results.

This may be due to a combination of factors and requires more research, but they can be inferred based on what is known about human physiology and biological time.

“Our body has a biological clock, and it regulates many processes in the body and has a specific rhythm to these processes,” said Patrick Schrone, professor of metabolic aspects of type 2 diabetes at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands.

“Some things like your body temperature and your blood pressure are well known,” Shron explained.

He said our biological clocks also affect our metabolism and whether our bodies sometimes burn fats or carbohydrates.

For study participants at risk of developing obesity or type 2 diabetes, these fat burners were the most optimal in the afternoon.

According to Shawn Arnett, professor and chairman of the Department of Physical Sciences at the University of South Carolina, eating also plays a role.

Arendt explained that the more time you stay awake, the more likely you are to pour more fuel into your body.

Shron said not eating snacks in the afternoon and skipping meals late at night can have a significant impact on a person’s weight and overall health.

Other studies show that late eaters consume more calories than they did the day before.

Arendt said it is important to consume protein after a workout, but your post-workout nutrition intake time will be flexible, so you may not feel the need to expel your protein shake immediately after your workout.

The quality of the exercise exceeds the time

For many, getting enough exercise is more important than getting proper exercise at the right time.

“If you continue to train for a certain amount of time in the day, you start to adjust accordingly,” Arendt warned against sacrificing sleep for early exercise, as overall sleep quality is more important than stressing yourself out for extra exercise.

Research also suggests that exercise can lead to better sleep quality, and that exercising in the afternoon or evening at least 90 minutes before bed does not affect the sleep schedule.