Burn up to 70% more body fat by introducing 'potent' habit before breakfast

Although the time of the day a person chooses to exercise has little to no effect on how much weight they lose, there is evidence that exercising first thing in the morning may offer some advantages.

Experts at WebMD say a morning workout before sitting down to have breakfast helps burn fat more quickly.

“Do some moderate exercise before you sit down to eat in the mornings,” says the health organisation.

“Working out on an empty stomach helps you get better results from exercise. Prebreakfast sweat sessions can help you burn more of your body’s fat for fuel.”

Some studies suggest exercising on an empty stomach can rev up fat burn by a staggering 70 per cent.

When the body is fasting, it relies on several backup mechanisms to ensure the muscles and brain get the nutrients they need for fuel.

Sports scientists at Nottingham Trent discovered that exercising on an empty stomach helped people burn about 70 per cent more fat than those who exercised two hours after eating.

Dr David Clayton, an expert in nutrition and exercise physiology at Nottingham Trent University, explained: “Combining exercise and fasting can be a potent way to increase the benefits of exercise, so we would like to assess this over a longer period of time and explore other ways in which we can make fasting easier and more convenient for people."

While the science highlights differences in weight loss results relative to timing, experts discourage getting too caught up in the timing of your workout.

Because relying on exercise alone isn’t a practical way to shed fat, you’ll also want to consider what you’re eating and drinking as well.

Standard dietary guidelines highlight the importance of eating lots of different fruits and vegetables.

At least half of a person's servings of grain foods should come from whole-grain sources.

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WebMD reminds slimmers that it is better to lose weight gradually as it's less likely to pile back on.

The health body states: "Many experts say it's best to lose weight gradually.

"It's more likely to stay off. If you shed pounds too fast, you'll lose muscle, bone, and water instead of fat," says the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The academy advises aiming to lose between one and two pounds per week and avoiding fad diets.