Should you work out on an empty stomach? Fitness experts weigh in

January 17, 2024

A popular New Year’s resolution is to exercise more. Whether you’re training for a marathon or looking to get healthy, how you prepare for the gym is key. One decision you’ll have to make is whether you eat before your workout.

Exercising on an empty stomach is commonly thought to help burn fat. The logic is that people use fat and sugar for energy, so by not having anything in your stomach, you will burn off stored fat reserves in the body. However, the science to support this exercise “hack” is inconclusive. While working out on an empty stomach is not necessarily dangerous, depending on your fitness goals, it may be less than ideal. Popular Science