Early bird gets worm when it comes to regular exercise: Experts

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What’s that old saying about zzz best laid plans?

While night owls have been said to be more at risk for dementia, depression and diabetes, a new study suggests those who stay up late can also forget about early morning exercise.

The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Per the New York Post, researchers assessed the sleep habits and exercise levels of nearly 20,000 people who wore the health and fitness tracker WHOOP for one full year, taking into account how long they slept and when they went to bed.

Researchers found that sleep duration was less important than those who went to bed earlier.

People who went to bed around 9 p.m. did about 30 more minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity the following day than those who hit the hay at 1 a.m.

Those early risers performed 15 more workout minutes compared to those who went under the covers at 11 p.m. — the average bedtime for participants — even when the total sleep duration was the same.

Experts believe that societal norms can put night owls at a disadvantage regarding mental and, as it turns out, physical health.

“Standard nine-to-five routines can clash with the natural sleep preferences of evening types, leading to social jetlag, poorer sleep quality and increased daytime sleepiness — which can all reduce motivation and opportunity for physical activity the next day,” Josh Leota, a research fellow at Monash University’s School of Psychological Sciences, said in a statement.

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Sleep specialist Dr. Dylan Petkus previously told the New York Post that “although early birds do better with societal norms like traditional nine-to-five jobs … both can be equally healthy as long as they get enough sleep and stick to a consistent schedule.”

He noted that people who go to bed between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. tend to have the best sleep quality.

Leota believes the study’s findings have “meaningful implications for public health.

“Rather than just promoting sleep and physical activity independently, health campaigns could encourage earlier bedtimes to naturally foster more active lifestyles,” he said.

“A holistic approach that recognizes how these two essential behaviours interact may lead to better outcomes for individual and community health,” Leota added.

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