EXERCISING on an empty stomach could be better for you than doing so after a meal, according to a study.
Men who had a workout before breakfast lost more fat than those who did so after the first meal of the day, scientists found.
There might be an extra benefit from exercising before eating, although further study is needed to assess the longer-term effects.
The study was carried out by Dr Jason Gill and Nor Farah of the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences at the University of Glasgow.
Ten overweight men took part in the study which looked at the effects of exercising before and after breakfast on metabolic health and fat loss.
Each man underwent three trials, up to a fortnight apart. In one, they performed no exercise then ate breakfast. The other trials saw them walking briskly for 60 minutes before eating breakfast, or doing the same walk after eating their morning meal.
Participants were given lunch three and a half hours after breakfast and the amount of fat their body burnt and the level of fat, sugars and insulin in the blood were measured.