Diurnal timing of physical activity in relation to obesity and diabetes in the German National Cohort (NAKO)
Authors' conclusion
Our cross-sectional findings require longitudinal corroboration but suggest afternoon and evening activity provide greater metabolic health benefits than morning activity, while nighttime activity is discouraged.
Study context
- Population
- Participants aged 20–75 in the German National Cohort (NAKO), 2015–2019, with hip-worn accelerometry data
- Participants
- 61,116 participants
- Exposure
- Top vs bottom quartile of morning, afternoon, evening and nighttime physical activity
- Outcome
- Obesity (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m²) and diabetes (self-reported or HbA1c ≥ 6.5%)
Methodological detailsaccelerometry (hip-worn), multivariable logistic regression, sex- and age-standardized quartiles
- Accelerometry (hip-worn)
- Multivariable logistic regression
- Sex- and age-standardized quartiles
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Obesity
Odds ratio (95% CI)
Afternoonvs Bottom quartile
0.36(0.33–0.38)
Eveningvs Bottom quartile
0.45(0.42–0.48)
Morningvs Bottom quartile
0.71(0.66–0.76)
Nighttimevs Bottom quartile
1.58(1.48–1.68)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | OR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| DiabetesAfternoonvs Bottom quartile | 0.47 (0.42–0.53) | |
| DiabetesEveningvs Bottom quartile | 0.56 (0.50–0.62) | |
| DiabetesMorningvs Bottom quartile | 0.80 (0.71–0.89) | |
| DiabetesNighttimevs Bottom quartile | 1.43 (1.29–1.58) | |
| 0.512Odds ratio (log scale) |
Effect modification
- Findings not modified by employment status, night shift work and sleep duration
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Diurnal timing of physical activity in relation to obesity and diabetes in the German National Cohort (NAKO). Int J Obes (Lond). Published 24 January 2025. doi:10.
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