When we come across so much information about weight loss, it becomes difficult to decide what to follow and what not to follow. One of the most common problems among weight watchers is whether they should eat their breakfast before their workout or after it. Before drawing any conclusion in this matter, it is important to understand the pros and cons of both. Let us discuss the difference between the two.

Benefits of exercising on an empty stomach


Scientists suggest that exercising on an empty stomach may promote more favourable changes in body fat as compared to working out on a filled stomach.

The finding is based on a study carried out by a team of researcher from the University of Bath in which 10 overweight male volunteers participated. The participants were asked to walk for one hour first on an empty stomach and then two hours after having a high-calorie carbohydrate-rich breakfast. In the end, it was found that exercising on an empty stomach promoted more positive changes in body fat.

It was noticed that the expression of two genes (PDK4 and HSL) increased when the participants fasted but decreased when they ate a high-calorie breakfast before the workout session. This observation suggests that the fat present in the body was used to fuel the exercise, instead of the food consumed at breakfast.

This means that exercising on an empty state might lead to more favourable changes in adipose tissue, which can be beneficial for the one trying to shed kilos. However, it is important to note that the study sample was quite small and carried out on overweight men.

Disadvantages of exercising on an empty stomach


If you are planning to do an intense workout, then eating food before your exercise will keep you energetic and will keep you moving. Working out on an empty stomach is good, but sometimes the type of workout you are going to do should also be taken into consideration. If you are going for brisk walking or jogging then trying it out on an empty stomach is fine. Just make sure you stop when you feel weak and lightheaded.

The result


It is true that training in a fasted state helps to burn more fat during the workout, but exercising after having your breakfast leads to higher fat oxidation over a 24-hour period.

So, the best state is what fits your lifestyle and the one you can do easily. If you’re training early morning, then to have breakfast and let it sit for a while before training can be difficult. In such a case it is better to exercise on an empty stomach. If you are training later in the day, you’ll probably train better having fully digested a meal.

So, just pick the situation that suits you the best.