Cycling after meals is linked to lower glucose during sitting, study finds
In a trial of 20 healthy adults, cycling for 15 minutes right after a meal was linked to lower average glucose during two hours of sitting. Cycling later or taking three short breaks did not significantly lower glucose across the full period, and no condition changed cognitive performance.
Cycling for 15 minutes right after a meal was linked to lower average glucose during two hours of sitting. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living published the randomized crossover trial on Nov. 9. The trial compared cycling right away, 20 minutes later, three five-minute bouts and sitting alone. Twenty healthy adults completed all four conditions after standardized meals.1
Average glucose over two hours was 7.1% lower after immediate cycling than after sitting alone. Delayed cycling and three five-minute bouts did not significantly lower average glucose across the full period. None of the conditions significantly changed cognitive performance.1
For trainers, the result suggested timing may matter for short-term glucose responses during prolonged sitting. The study measured only acute responses in healthy adults and did not establish long-term effects. The authors said future research should test whether the findings apply to people with impaired glucose regulation.1
