Last updated August 22, 2026
Key finding
24-hour glucose concentrations were lower after 5 days of HFD compared with the participants’ habitual diet (5.3 ± 0.4 vs 5.6 ± 0.4 mmol/l, p = 0.001).
A short-term high-fat diet impacted metabolic profiles in overweight/obese men, with evening exercise showing significant benefits.
Quick read
The essential study design details in one scan.
EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Study type
RCTs
Follow-up
Short-Term (≤3 mo)
Risk of bias
Some Concerns
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Plain-language summary
A plain-language read of the study’s main message and where it applies.
Study focus
A short-term high-fat diet impacted metabolic profiles in overweight/obese men, with evening exercise showing significant benefits.
These findings suggest that the timing of exercise can influence metabolic health, particularly for individuals following a high-fat diet. Clinicians may consider recommending evening exercise to improve metabolic profiles in overweight or obese patients, potentially aiding in weight management and reducing diabetes risk.
Limited to overweight/obese men, affecting generalizability. Short duration of the intervention may not reflect long-term effects. No assessment of dietary adherence beyond the high-fat diet.
Published in
Publication details and source links for this paper.
Trine M, Evelyn BP, Brooke LD, Julia D, Guro G, John AH. A short-term high-fat diet alters metabolic profiles in overweight/obese men based on exercise timing. Diabetologia. 2021;64(9):2061-2076. doi:10.1007/s00125-021-05477-5
24-hour glucose concentrations decreased by 0.3 mmol/L after 5 days of HFD (p = 0.001).
Nocturnal glucose levels were lower by 0.4 mmol/L in the evening exercise group (p = 0.04).
Peak oxygen uptake improved by 1.4 ml/min/kg after evening exercise (p = 0.001).
Evidence network
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This study contributes evidence to Evening exercise, Morning exercise and Blood triacylglycerol concentration, Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG), Insulin, and 4 more.
This study contributes evidence to
Primary intervention
Evening exercise
Primary outcomes
Evidence topics
Primary intervention
Intervention and outcome relationships this study adds to the evidence network.
Editorial context
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Evidence network role
This section describes how the study fits into the current evidence network. It does not determine whether an intervention works on its own.
3
Related topics
8
Evidence pairs
1015
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Evidence topic
Contributes evidence
Evidence topic
Contributes evidence
Evidence topic
Contributes evidence
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Primary evidence
Evidence topic
matched_outcome
Related evidence
Evidence topic
Save evidence
Core evidence
The primary outcomes reported in this study.
Evening exercise → Blood triacylglycerol concentration
Evening exercise → Blood triacylglycerol concentration
Evening exercise → Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)
Evening exercise → Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)
Evening exercise → Nocturnal glucose control
Evening exercise → Nocturnal glucose control
Evening exercise → Peak Oxygen Uptake Improvement
Evening exercise → Peak Oxygen Uptake Improvement
Morning exercise → Peak Oxygen Uptake Improvement
Morning exercise → Peak Oxygen Uptake Improvement
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Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.
This study contributes to evidence on Evening exercise and Blood triacylglycerol concentration, Evening exercise and Fasting Glucose.
This study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.
Physical Activity
Physical Activity
Physical Activity
Curated evidence collections and hubs this study is part of.
All studies measuring Adipokine and Angiogenic Markers
Measures Adipokine and Angiogenic Markers as a key outcome.
All studies measuring Blood triacylglycerol concentration
Measures Blood triacylglycerol concentration as a key outcome.
All studies on Evening exercise
Contributes to Evening exercise evidence base.
All studies measuring Fasting Glucose
Measures Fasting Glucose as a key outcome.
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1 results
1 results
1 results
1 results
1 results
Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.
Evening exercise appears to improve blood triacylglycerol concentration.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
Blood triacylglycerol concentration
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
Evening exercise appears to improve fasting plasma glucose (FPG).
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
Evening exercise appears to improve insulin.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
Insulin
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
Evening exercise appears to improve ldl cholesterol.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
LDL cholesterol
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
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