Experimental protocol and interventions
Figure Experimental design. All participants consumed a high-fat diet for 11 days. Two groups of participants exercised daily on day 6–10, either in the morning (After the initial 5 days, two groups of participants exercised daily on days 6–10, either at 06:30 h (EXam) or at 18:30 h (EXpm), whereas one group of participants did not exercise (CONTROL). The exercise protocols were identical for the EXam and EXpm groups and consisted of a combination of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous cycling. The high-intensity interval training sessions (completed on day 6, 8 and 10) consisted of a 10-min warm-up followed by ten 1-min work-bouts at 95–120% of individual peak power output, separated by 1-min low-intensity cycling. The moderate-intensity continuous sessions comprised cycling at 60–65% of individual peak power output for 40 min (on day 7) and 60 min (on day 9). In the meal following each exercise session, the participants consumed a 419 kJ snack, with the same macronutrient composition as in the HFD, to maintain energy balance. Participants allocated to CONTROL maintained their habitual activities of daily living.