## Science Debunks Fasted Workout Fat-Burning Claims
Recent research challenges the popular belief that exercising on an empty stomach leads to greater fat loss or improved athletic performance. A review of evidence indicates no meaningful difference in outcomes whether resistance training or cardio is performed after fasting or after eating.
One randomized controlled trial published in the *International Journal of sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism* found no variation in strength, power, or lean body mass when participants completed resistance training twice weekly for 12 weeks, nonetheless of whether they had eaten beforehand.Similarly, a study detailed in *The Journal of Physiology* showed no difference in fat oxidation rates between fasted and fed exercise.
However, fasted training isn’t without potential drawbacks. Individuals may experience increased hunger post-workout, possibly leading to poorer food choices. Some report headaches and nausea, although experiences vary widely.
according to Mandy Hagstrom, Senior Lecturer in Exercise Physiology at UNSW Sydney, the evidence doesn’t support the superiority of fasted exercise for weight loss or sports performance, nor does it demonstrate harm in many cases-with the possible exception of elite athletes.
“If skipping breakfast allows you to exercise, go for it,” Hagstrom states. ”But if it discourages you from working out,eat beforehand. Simply doing exercise matters the most.”
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. read the original article.
