People should exercise in the morning if they want to lose weight.
An American study on more than 5,000 middle-aged adults showed that exercising between 7am and 9am was the best time for weight loss.
Those who completed a morning workout had a lower body mass index (BMI) and smaller waist circumference than individuals who exercised at midday or in the evening - despite spending more time sedentary than others.
Scientists feel that morning exercise is better as people are less likely to be distracted by phone calls or meetings.
Dr. Rebecca Krukowski, a clinical psychologist at the University of Virginia, said: "This is exciting new research that is consistent with a common tip for meeting exercise goals.
"That is, schedule exercise in the morning before emails, phone calls or meetings might distract you."
However, she acknowledged that the findings could be attributed to other factors, such as a more predictable schedule or no caregiving responsibilities.