Morning or evening? Time of day does not affect body composition, cardiopulmonary performance, and muscle strength responses to combined training in women with obesity

Introduction

Obesity is characterized by adipocyte dysfunction, accompanied by impairments in oxidative metabolism and physical function. Although physical training is known to improve oxidative capacity, body composition, and functional performance, the magnitude of these adaptations may be influenced by several modulatory factors. Among these, circadian rhythm has emerged as a potential determinant of exercise-induced adaptations due to daily fluctuations in metabolic and physiological processes; however, its influence in women with obesity remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of combined training performed at different times of the day (morning vs. evening) on body composition, cardiopulmonary performance, and muscle strength in previously untrained women with obesity.